LI  B  R.AR.Y 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


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BY 


JULIETTE    AUGUSTA  (MAGILL)  KINZIE 


SECOND    EDITION 


For  Catalogue,  See  Inside  and  Last  Pages  of  Cover. 


(REYNOLDS')  PIONEER  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Containing  the  Discovery  in  1673  and  the  History  of  the  Country  to  the  year  18 

,         h°,  ];y  JOHN   REYNOLDS,  late  Governor  of  Illinois,  Membe 

c     •  .  etc     Helleville.  III.,  1852.     Reprinted  fromthe  original  edit 

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THE   MARTYRDOM    OF   LOVEJOY. 

An  account  of  the  Life,  Trials,  and  Perils  of  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy,  killed  by  a  I 
SlaYcry  Mob.  at  Alton,  111.,  on  the  night  of  Nov.  7,  1837.  By  HENRY  TANNER,  of  Buffalo,  N.Y.,  an  1 
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Ibe  Towne-Family  Memorial.  Compiled  from  the  New-England  Historical  and  Ge 
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f38 


FERGUS'    HISTORICAL    SERIES.  — No.    3O. 

00^4  

NARRATIVE 


OF    THE 


MASSACRE  AT  CHICAGO 

[SATURDAY],  AUGUST  15,  1812, 

AND    OF 

SOME  PRECEDING  EVENTS. 

[BY 
JULIETTE  AUGUSTA  (MAGILL)  KINZIE.] 

SECOND    EDITION 
WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS,  ADDITIONAL  NOTES,  AND  INDEX. 


First  Edition,    "Chicago,  111.,  Printed  by  [Wm.]  Ellis  &  [Robert]  Fergus, 

Book  and  Job  Printers,  Saloon  Building,  37  Clark  St., 

[S.-W.  cor.  Lake],   1844." 


CHICAGO: 

FERGUS    PRINTING    COMPANY 
1914 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844,  by 

JOHN  HARRIS  KINZIE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Illinois. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1914,  by 

JOHN  BOWMAN  FERGUS, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


FOREWORD. 

SOME  parts  of  the  writer's  notes  may  be  considered  out  of 
place,  but  as  they  relate  to  early  Chicago,  this  seemed  to 
be  an  excellent  opportunity  to  perpetuate  them.  All  the  data 
are  from  authentic  sources,  gathered  during  the  past  forty  years 
or  from  personal  observation  and  knowledge.  The  only  changes 
that  have  been  made  in  this  edition  are  the  insertion  of  quotation 
marks,  making  paragraphs,  and  inserting  the  original  notes  as  a 
part  of  the  text  instead  of  being  at  the  end. 

Chicago,  1911.  G.  H.  F. 


IN   MEMORIAN 

Robert  and  George  Harris  Fergus  possessed  the  rare  faculty 
of  discriminative  collecting  and  colating  historical  facts  relating 
to  early  Chicago,  extending  over  a  period  of  72  years — July  i, 
1839  to  November  24,  1911. 

Robert  Fergus,  pioneer  printer  and  publisher — first  daily  one- 
cent  newspaper,  ("QuidNunc,"  1842),  and  first  complete  book 
(Illinois  Supreme  Court  Reports,  Scammon,  Vols.  2-3),  west  of 
the  Allegheny  Mountains,  also  first  Chicago  Directory  (1843-45- 
46) — led  the  way  for  the  "Fergus  Historical  Series,"  and  George 
Harris,  his  eldest  son,  in  like  vocation,  followed  in  his  footsteps. 
The  notes  and  index  of  this  republication,  representing  much 
labor  and  research,  at  odd  times  during  the  last  twenty  years 
of  his  life,  was  his  final  historical  work. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


r  I  AHIS  little  record,*  taken  many  years  since,  [1836] 
-*•  from  the  lips  of  those  who  had  been  eye-witnesses-f- 
of  the  events  described,  was  not  designed  for  publica- 
tion. It  was  made  simply  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
to  the  children  of  the  writer,  a  faithful  picture  of  the 
perilous  scenes  through  which  those  near  and  dear  to 
them  had  been  called  to  pass.  This  will  excuse  many 
personal  and  family  details  which  it  contains. 

At  the  solicitation  of  many  friends,  and  to  avoid  the 
possibility  of  its  unauthorized  appearance  in  print,  the 
writer  has  consented  to  its  publication  in  its  original  form. 

[Chicago,  1844.] 

[  *  From  manuscript  written  and  furnished  by  Mrs.  John  H.  Kinzie,  con- 
tained in  a  small  letter -page  half- bound  blankbook.  I  set  the  type  for  the 
first  edition  of  this  pamphlet  in  1844.  The  presswork  was  done-  by  my 
partner,  the  late  William  Ellis.  Mrs.  Kinzie  read,  revised,  and  approved  the 
proofs.  It  had  not  been  printed  prior  to  that  date. 

Chicago,  Aug.  4,  1892.  ROBERT  FERGUS.] 

[  Subsequently,  it  was  inserted,  substantially,  by  Judge  Henry  Brown  in  his 
" History  of  Illinois,"  New  York,  1844;  it  also  appeared  in  the  three  editions 
of  "Annals  of  the  West,"  Cincinnati,  O.,  1846;  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  1850;  and 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  1856,  by  James  Handyside  Perkins.  Major  Richardson  made 
use  of  it  in  two  of  his  tales,  "  Hardscrabble "  and  "Wau-nan-gee. "  Mrs. 
Kinzie  reproduced  it  as  Chapters  XVIII  and  XIX  in  her  "Wau-Bun,  the 
Early  Day  in  the  Northwest,"  New  York,  1856. — G.  H.  F.] 

[tMrs.  Margaret  McKillip  Helm,  half-sister  of  John  H.  Kinzie,  and  her 
mother,  Mrs.  John  Kinzie. — G.  H.  F.] 


FORT    DEARBORN 


Elevations  based  on  plan  drawn  by  Capt.J.Wbiatler,  Jan   25.  1808. 


SCALE-FEU 


rTT'.i  i. — f- 


-t i 


,m.  rw-i  .  .       f  .  ,,,,-T      •  .  j- 

Magazine  Contractors  5t 

Section  on  A-B 


Soldier*'  Barr.cl..  tf^'^^^-  Barracks 
bection  on  C-D. 


FORT    DEARBORN 


PLAN 

Based  on  plan  drawn  by  tapt.J. Whistler 

J»n  25,1808 


tOALC-FCET 


R=F  .1 


INTRODUCTION 

E  events  recorded  in  the  following  narrative  took  place 
JL  when  Chicago  was  a  remote  outpost  of  the  American  frontier. 
It  could  hardly  be  called  a  settlement,  as  the  only  inhabitants 
without  the  garrison  were  the  family  of  a  gentleman*  engaged 
in  the  fur- trade,  and  the  few  Canadians  or  engages,  with  their 
wives  and  their  children,  who  were  attached  to  the  same  estab- 
lishment. 

A  wilderness,  peopled  by  savages,  extended  across  the  penin- 
sula of  Michigan,  and  the  only  intercourse  between  the  far-distant 


[THE  FIRST  FORT  DEARBORN,  COMMENCED  IN  1803 1] 

posts  of  Fort  Wayne,  Detroit,  and  Chicago  was  carried  on  by 
such  hardy  travelers  as  ventured  occasionally  to  encounter  the 

[*JohnKinzie.] 

[t This  is  a  view  from  the  northwest  of  the  first  Fort  Dearborn,  from  a 
sketch  drawn  by  the  late  George  Davis — "the  sweet  singer  of  St.  James'" 
Church — made  prior  to  1844,  from  descriptions  given  him  by  Mrs.  Margaret 
McKillip  Helm -Abbott  and  others;  drawn  on  wood  by  John  E.  Dillingham 

and  engraved  by Nichols  in  1857,  and  was  first  used  in  the  late  Zebina 

Eastman's  "  History  of  Chicago, "  a  series  of  illustrated  articles  that  appeared 
in  the  five  numbers,  all  that  were  issued,  of  the  "Chicago  Magazine,"  Chicago, 
March  to  July,  inclusive,  1857. — G.  H.  F.] 

9 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

perils  and  fatigues  of  this  lonely  and  hazardous  journey.  Guided 
by  a  devious  Indian  trail,  encamping  at  night  beside  a  stream; 
or  seeking  shelter  in  some  hospitable  wigwam;  or  even,  some- 
times, driven  by  circumstances,  to  imitate  the  birds  of  heaven, 
and  "lodge  among  the  branches;"  through  difficulties  and  dangers 
such  as  these  was  communication  maintained  between  places  now 
so  easy  of  access  to  each  other. 

The  former  fort*  at  Chicago  stood  upon  nearly  the  same  site 
as  the  present  (1836)  stockade.  It  was  differently  constructed, 
however,  having  two  block-houses,  [one]  on  the  southern  side  and 
[one]  on  the  northern,  a  sally-port  or  subterranean  passage  from  the 
parade-ground  to  the  river.  This  was  designed  either  to  facili- 
tate an  escape  in  case  of  emergency,  or  as  a  means  of  supplying 
the  garrison  with  water  during  a  siege. 

The  officers  in  the  fort,  at  the  period  of  which  we  write,  were: 
Capt.  [Nathan]  Heald.t  the  commanding  officer;  Lieut.  [Linai 

[  *  It  was  somewhat  different  in  its  structure  from  its  successor.  It  had  two 
block -houses,  one  on  the  southeast  corner,  the  other  on  the  northwest.  On  the 
north  side  was  a  sally-port  or  subterranean  passage,  leading  from  the  parade- 
ground  to  the  river,  designed  as  a  place  of  escape  in  an  emergency,  or  for 
supplying  the  garrison  with  water  in  time  of  a  siege.  The  whole  was 
inclosed  by  a  strong  palisade  of  wooden  pickets.  [The  pickets,  14  feet  high, 
were  removed  in  1844,  and  replaced  by  a  board  fence — whitewashed,  seven 
feet  high.]  At  the  west  of  the  fort,  and  fronting  north  on  the  river, 
was  a  two -story  log  building,  covered  with  split -oak  siding,  which  was 
the  United -States  factory,  attached  to  the  fort.  On  the  south  shore  of  the 
river,  between  the  fort  and  the  factory,  were  the  root- houses,  or  cellars 
of  the  garrison.  The  ground  adjoining  the  fort  on  the  south  side  was 
inclosed  and  cultivated  as  a  garden.  The  fort  was  furnished  with  three 
pieces  of  light'  artillery.  A  company  of  United -States  troops,  about  fifty 
in  number,  many  of  whom  were  invalids,  constituted  the  garrison.  It 
received  the  name  of  Fort  Dearborn,  [prior  to  May,  1804,  it  was  known 
as  Post  Chicago],  by  which  it  was  ever  after  known  as  long  as  it  continued  a 
military  post.  Such  was  the  old  fort  previous  to  1812.  Through  the  kind- 
ness of  Mrs.  John  H.  Kinzie,  who  furnished  the  sketch,  we  are  enabled  to 
present  a  view  of  this  fort  as  it  appeared  previous  to  that  year. — "Chicago 
Magazine,"  Vol.  i,  No.  I,  March,  1857.] 

[  t  Nathan  Heald,  third  son  of  Col.  Thomas  and  Sybil  Adams  Heald,  was 
born  in  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.,  Sept.  29,  1775;  was  appointed  from  Massachu- 


MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO.  II 

Taliaferro]  Helm*  [son-in-law  of  Mrs.  John  Kinzie];  and  Ensign 
[George]  Ronant — the  last  two  were  very  young  men  —and  the 
surgeon,  Dr.  [Isaac  V.]  van  Voorhis.J  The  command  numbered 
about  seventy -five  men,  very  few  of  whom  were  effective. 

A  constant  and  friendly  intercourse  had  been  maintained 
between  these  troops  and  the  neighboring  Indians.  It  is  true 
that  the  principal  men  of  the  Potawatomie  nation  went  yearly  to 
Fort  Maiden  [Amherstburg],  in  Canada,  to  receive  presents  to  a 
large  amount,  with  which  the  British  government  had  for  many 
years  been  in  the  habit  of  purchasing  their  alliance;  and  it  was 
well  known  that  many  Potawatomies,  as  well  as  Winnebagoes, 
were  engaged  with  the  Ottawas  and  Shawnees  at  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  [Nov.  7,  1811];  yet,  as  the  principal  chiefs  of  all 
bands  in  the  neighborhood  appeared  to  be  on  the  most  amicable 
terms  with  the  Americans,  no  interruption  of  their  harmony  was 
ever  anticipated  by  the  whites. 

After  August  1 5,  however,  many  circumstances  were  recollected 
which  might  have  opened  their  eyes,  had  they  not  been  lulled 
into  fatal  security. 

setts  ensign  and  2d  lieut.  of  2d  infantry,  March  3,  and  1st  lieut.,  Nov.  1799; 
retained  in  1st  infantry,  April,  1802;  promoted  captain  in  Jan.,  1807;  com- 
manded in  action  with  Indians  near  Fort  Dearborn,  Aug.  12,  1811,  where  he 
with  his  wife  were  badly  wounded;  promoted  major1  of  4th  infantry,  Aug.  26, 
1812;  transferred  to  igth  infantry,  Apr.,  1814;  retired  to  private  life  when  his 
regiment  was  disbanded  at  the  close  of  the  war;  was  mustered  out  June  15, 
1815.  He  lived  for  many  years — Spring  of  1817  —  before; his  death,  which 
occurred  April  27,  1832,  at  Stockland,  now  O'Fallon,  St.  Charles  Co.,  Mo., 
where  his  only  son,  Hon.  Darius  Heald,  lived  on  the  old  homestead  until  his 
death,  Nov.  25,  1904,  aged  82. — G.  H.  v:] 

[  *  Linai  Taliaferro  Helm,  born  in  Virginia;  appointed  ensign  1st  infy., 
Dec,  9,  1807;  2d  lieut.,  Dec.  8,  1808;  i.«,t  lieut.,  Jan.  20,  1813;  capt.,  Apr. 
15.  1814;  resigned  Sept.  27,  1814;  died  Oct.  15,  1838.  Married  in  Detroit, 

,  1808,  Margaret  McKillip,  step-daughter  of  John  Kinzie,  who  obtained 

a  divorce  from  him  Oct.  12,  1829  —  Chicago's  first  divorce. — G.  H.  F.] 

[t George  Konan,  born  in  New  York;  entered  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  N.  V.,  Jan.  15,  1808;  ensign  1st  infy.,  Mar.  I,  1811;  killed  Aug.  15, 
1812,  in  action  with  Indians  near  Fort  Dearborn,  Chicago,  111. — G.  H.  F.] 

[  +  Isaac  V.  van  Voorhis,  born  in  New  York;  appointed  surgeon's  mate,  Mar. 
I,  1811;  killed  Aug.  15,  1812,  in  action  under  Capt.  Nathan  Heald,  with 
Indians  near  Fort  Dearborn,  Chicago,  111. — o.  H.  F.] 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

One  instance,  in  particular,  may  be  mentioned.  In  the  spring, 
preceding  the  destruction  of  the  fort,  two  Indians,  of  the  Calumet 
band,  came  to  the  post,  on  a  visit  to  the  commanding  officer. 
As  they  passed  through  the  quarters,  they  saw  Mrs.  Heald*  and 
another  lady  [Mrs.  Helm]t|playing  at  battledoor.  Turning  to  the 
interpreter,  one  of  them,  Nau-non-gee,  remarked: 

"The  white  chiefs'  wives  are  amusing  themselves  very  much — 
it  will  not  be  long  before  they  are  hoeing  in  our  cornfields." 

This  was  considered  an  idle  threat,  or,  at  most,  an  ebullition 
of  jealous  feeling,  at  the  contrast  between  {he  situation  of  their 
own  women  and  that  of  the  "white  chiefs'  wives."  Some  months 
after,  how  bitterly  it  was  remembered ! 

Nau-non-gee  was  the  principal  chief  of  the  Calumet  village,, 
and  the  particulars  of  his  death,  as  afterward  given  by  some  of 
his  band,  are  not  unworthy  of  record. 

During  the  battle  of  August  15,  the  chief  object  of  his  attack 
was  one  Sergt.  [Otho]  Hayes,  a  man  from  whom  he  had  received 
many  acts  of  kindness.  After  Hayes  had  received  a  ball  through 
the  body,  this  Indian  ran  up  to  tomahawk  him,  when  the  sergeant, 
collecting  his  remaining  strength,  pinned  him  through  the  body 
with  his  bayonet.  They  fell  together.  Other  Indians,  running  up, 
despatched  Hayes,  and  it  was  not  until  then  that  his  bayonet  was 
extracted  from  the  body  of  his  adversary. 

The  wounded  chief  was  carried,  after  the  battle,  to  his  village 
on  the  Calumet,  where  he  survived  several  days. 

Foreseeing  his  approaching  end,  he  called  together  his  young 
men,  and  enjoined  them  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to  respect 
the  safety  of  their  prisoners,  after  his  death,  and  to  take  the  lives 
of  none  of  them,  from  respect  to  his  memory,  as  he  deserved  his 
fate  from  the  hands  of  those  whose  kindness  he  had  so  ill-requited. 

[  *  Rebekah  Wells  Heald  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  Samuel  Wells,  brother  of 

Capt.  William  Wells,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  she  was  born ,  1776, 

and  married  at  Ft.  Wayne,  May  23,  1811,  to  Capt.  Nathan  Heald,  and  with 
her  husband  started  immediately  on  horseback  for  Fort  Dearborn.  She  died 
near  O'Fallon,  Mo.,  April  23,  1857,  aged  81. — G.  H.  F.] 

[tMrs.  Margaret  McKillip  Helm,  half-sister  of  John  H.  Kinzie,  wife  of 
Lieut.  Linai  T.  Helm,  and  later  wife  of  Dr.  Lucius  T.  Abbott,  died  at  Water- 
ford,  Mich.,  Apr.  22,  1844,  aged  49. — G.  H.  F.] 


CHAPTER   I. 

IT  was  the  evening  of  April  7,  1812.  The  children  of  Mr. 
K[inzie]  were  dancing  before  the  fire,  to  the  music  of  their 
father's  violin.  The  tea-table  was  spread,  and  they  were  await- 
ing the  return  of  their  mother,  who  had  gone  to  visit  a  sick 
neighbor,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  up  the  river. 

Suddenly  their  sports  were  interrupted.  The  door  was  thrown 
open,  and  Mrs.  K[inzie]  rushed  in,  pale  with  terror,  and  scarcely 
able  to  articulate — "The  Indians!  the  Indians!" 

"What?"     ".  Where?"  all  eagerly  demanded. 

"Up  at  [Charles]  Lee's  place;  killing  and  scalping." 

With  difficulty,  Mrs.  K[inzie]  composed  herself  sufficiently  to 
give  the  information,  that  while  she  was  up  at  Burns'  *  a  man  and 
a  boy  were  seen  running  down  with  all  speed,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river;  that  they  had  called  across  to  give  notice  to 
Burns'  family  to  save  themselves,  for  the  Indians  were  at  Lee's 
place,  from  which  they  had  just  made  their  escape;  and  having 
given  this  terrifying  news,  they  made  all  speed  for  the  fort,  which 
was  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  that  they  then  were. 

All  was  now  consternation  and  dismay.  The  family  was  hur- 
ried into  two  pirouges  that  were  moored  near  the  house,  and 
paddled  with  all  possible  haste  across  the  river  to  take  refuge  in 
the  fort. 

All  that  the  man  and  boy  who  made  their  escape  were  able  to 
tell  was  soon  known,  but  in  order  to  render  it  more  intelligible,  it 
is  necessary  to  describe  the  scene  of  action : 

Lee's  place,  since  known  by  the  name  of  Hardscrabble,t  was 
a  farm,  intersected  by  the  Chicago  River,  about  four  miles  from 
its  mouth.  The  farm-house  stood  on  the  western  bank  of  the 

[*The  Burns  house  was  located  near  what  is  now  (1910)  the  southwest 
corner  of  (new)  North -Water  street  and  North -State  street,  a  little  west  of 
and  nearer  the  river  than  the  site  occupied  later  by  the  agency  house,  also 
called  "Cobweb  Castle,"  and  later  known  as  Dr.  Alexander  Wolcott's. — 
G.  H.  F.] 

[  t  Hardscrabble  —  Section  29,  Town  39  North,  Range  14,  East. — G.  H.  F.] 

13 


14  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO. 

south  branch  of  this  river.  On  the  same  side  of  the  main 
stream,  but  quite  near  its  junction  with  Lake  Michigan,  stood 
the  dwelling-house  and  trading- establishment  of  Mr.  K[inzie]. 

The  fort  was  situated  upon  the  southern  bank,  directly  opposite 
this  mansion ;  the  river  and  a  few  rods  of  sloping,  green  turf  on 
either  side  being  all  that  intervened  between  them.  Here  the 
river  turned  away  suddenly  to  the  south,  and  pursued  a  course  of 
half  a  mile  between  the  beach  and  a  sandbar*  lying  outside,  at 
which  pointt  it  joined  the  lake  —  thus  leaving  the  site  of  the  fort 
a  beautiful  little  peninsula  or  promontory.  J 

The  farm  at  Lee's  place  was  occupied  by  a  Mr.  [Liberty]  White 
and  three  persons  employed  by  him  in  th,e  care  of  the  farm. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which,  our  narrative  commences, 
a  party  of  ten  or  twelve  Indians,  dressed  and  painted,  arrived  at 
the  house,  and  according  to  the  custom  among  savages,  entered 
and  seated  themselves  without  ceremony. 

Something  in  their  appearance  and  manner  excited  the  suspi- 
cions of  one  of  the  family,  a  Frenchman,  who  remarked: 

"I  do  not  like  the  looks  of  these  Indians  —  they  are  none  of 
our  folks.  I  know  by  their  dress  and  paint  that  they  are  not 
Potawatomies." 

Another  of  the  family,  a  discharged  soldier,  then  said  to  the 
boy  [a  son  of  Charles  Lee]  who  was  present : 

"If  that  is  the  case,  we  had  best  get  away  from  them,  if  we 
can.  Say  nothing,  but  do  as  you  see  me  do." 

[.*  John  Noble,  son  of  Mark  Noble,  sr.,  told  the  writer  a  short  time  before 
his  death — Jan.  13,  1885,  aged  82  years— that  in  1836,  he  wasjiving  in  the 
Kinzie  house,  with  his  father;  they  were  its  last  occupants,  and  that  during  a 
terrific  storm,  Oct.  3-4,  1836,  this  sandbar,  together  with  a  large  strip  of 
land  south  of  the  river's  mouth  at  Madison  street,  whereon  they  had  a  shanty, 
disappeared — was  washed  away — during  the  night.  "It  was  there  at  night 
and  was  gone  the  next  morning. "  From  this  land,  owned  by  Hiram  Pearsons, 
the  timber  for  the  first  Dearborn -street  (draw)  bridge  was  cut  by  the  con- 
tractor, Nelson  R.  Norton,  in  March,  1834.  The  bridge  was  completed 
about  June  i,  1834,  and  remored  in  Summer  of  1839. — G.  H.  F.] 
[t  About  Madison  street. — G.  H.  F.] 

[£In  1834,  the  Government  caused  the  present  channel  to  be  made  and 
extended  two  piers  into  the  lake  to  protect  it. — G.  H.  F.] 


MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO.  15 

As  the  afternoon  was  far  advanced,  the  soldier  walked  leisurely 
toward  the  canoes,  of  which  there  were  two,  tied  near  the  bank. 
Some  of  the  Indians  inquired  where  he  was  going.  He  pointed 
to  cattle,  which  were  standing  among  the  haystacks  on  the  oppo- 
site bank,  and  made  signs  that  they  must  go  and  fodder  them, 
and  then  they  should  return  and  get  their  supper. 

He  got  into  one  canoe,  and  the  boy  into  the  other.  The 
stream  was  narrow  and  they  were  soon  across.  When  they  had 
gained  the  opposite  side,  they  pulled  some  hay  for  the  cattle; 
made  a  show  of  collecting  them ;  and  when  they  had  gradually 
made  a  circuit,  so  that  their  movements  were  concealed  by  the 
haystacks,  they  took  to  the  woods,  which  were  close  at  hand,  and 
made  for  the  fort. 

They  had  run  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  when  they  heard  the 
discharge  of  two  guns,  successively,  which  they  supposed  to  have 
been  levelled  at  their  companions  left  behind. 

They  stopped  not  nor  stayed  until  they  had  arrived  opposite 
Burns',  where,  as  before  related,  they  had  called  across  to  advise 
the  family  of  their  danger,  and  then  hastened  on  to  the  fort. 

It  now  occurred  to  those  who  had  secured  their  own  safety 
that  the  family  of  Burns  was  at  this  moment  exposed  to  the 
most  imminent  peril.  The  question  was,  who  would  hazard  his 
own  life  to  bring  them  to  a  place  of  safety  ? 

A  gallant  young  officer,  Ensign  [George]  Ronan,  volunteered, 
.  with  a  party  of  five  or  six  soldiers,  to  go  to  their  rescue. 

They  ascended  the  river  in  a  scow,  took  the  mother  of  the 
family,  with  her  infant  of  scarcely  a  day  old,  upon  her  bed,  to 
the  boat,  in  which  they  carefully  conveyed  her  and  the  other 
members  of  the  family  to  the  fort. 


CHAPTER    II. 

A  PARTY  of  soldiers,  consisting  of  a  corporal  and  six  men, 
had,  that  afternoon,  obtained  leave  to  go  up  the  river 
to  fish. 

They  had  not  returned  when  the  fugitives  from  Lee's  place 
arrived  at  the  fort,  and  fearing  that  they  might  encounter  the 
Indians,  the  commanding  officer  ordered  a  cannon  to  be  fired, 
to  warn  them  of  danger. 

They  were  at  this  time-  about  two  miles  above  Lee's  place. 
Hearing  the  signal  they  took  the  hint,  put  out  their  torches  and 
dropped  down  the  river  toward  the  garrison,  as  silently  as  pos- 
sible. It  will  be  remembered  that  the  unsettled  state  of  the 
country  since  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  the  preceding  November, 
had  rendered  every  man  vigilant,  and  the  slightest  alarm  was  a 
hint  to  beware  of  the  Indians. 

When  the  fishing -party  reached  Lee's  place,  it  was  pro- 
posed to  stop  and  warn  the  inmates  to  be  upon  their  guard,  as 
the  signal  from  the  fort  indicated  danger  of  some  kind.  All  was 
still  as  death  around  the  house.  They  groped  their  way  along 
and  as  the  corporal  jumped  over  the  small  inclosure  he  placed 
his  hand  upon  the  dead  body  of  a  man.  By  the  sense  of  touch 
he  soon  ascertained  that  the  head  was  without  a  scalp,  and 
otherwise  mutilated.  The  faithful  dog  of  the  murdered  man 
stood  guarding  the  lifeless  remains  of  his  master. 

The  tale  was  now  told.  They  retreated  to  their  canoes  and 
reached  the  fort  unmolested,  about  1 1  o'clock  at  night.  The 
next  morning,  a  party  of  citizens  and  soldiers  volunteered  to  go 
to  Lee's  place  to  learn,  further,  the  fate  of  the  occupants.  The 
body  of  Mr.  White  was  found  pierced  by  two  balls  and  with 
eleven  stabs  in  the  breast.  The  Frenchman,  as  already  de- 
scribed, lay  dead  with  his  dog  still  beside  him.  The  bodies 
were  brought  to  the  fort  and  buried  in  its  immediate  vicinity. 

It  was  subsequently  ascertained  from  traders  out  in  the  Indian 
country,  that  the  perpetrators  of  this  bloody  deed  were  a  party 

16 


MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO.  17 

of  Winnebagoes  who  had  come  into  this  neighborhood  determined 
to  "take  some  white  scalps".  Their  plan  had  been  to  proceed 
down  the  river  from  Lee's  place,  and  kill  every  white  man  without 
the  walls  of  the  fort.  Hearing,  however,  the  report  of  the 
cannon,  and  not  knowing  what  it  portended,  they  thought  it  best 
to  remain  satisfied  with  this  one  exploit,  and  forthwith  retreated 
to  their  homes  on  Rpck  River. 

The  inhabitants  outside  the  fort,  consisting  of  a  few  dis- 
charged soldiers  and  some  families  of  half-breeds,  now  en- 
trenched themselves  in  the  agency-house.  This  stood  on  the 
esplanade,  west  of  the  fort,  between  the  pickets  and  the  river 
and  distant  about  forty*  rods  from  the  former.  It  was  an  old- 
fashioned  log  building,  with  a  hall  running  through  the  centre, 
and  one  large  room  on  each  side.  Piazzas  extended  the  whole 
length  of  the  building  in  both  front  and  rear.  These  were 
planked  up  for  greater  security;  port -holes  were  cut,  and  sentinels 
posted  at  night. 

As  the  enemy  were  believed  to  be  still  lurking  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, or,  emboldened  by  former  success,  likely  to  return  at 
any  moment,  an  order  was  issued  prohibiting  any  soldier  or 
citizen  from  leaving  the  vicinity  of  the  garrison  without  a  guard. 

One  night,  a  sergeant  and  private,  who  were  out  on  patrol, 
came  suddenly  upon  a  party  of  Indians,  in%  the  pasture  adjoin- 
ing the  esplanade.  The  sergeant  fired  his  piece  and  both 
returned  to  the  fort.  Before  they  could  reach  it,  an  Indian 
threw  his  tomahawk,  that  missed  the  sergeant  and  struck  a 
wagon,  standing  near.  The  sentinel  from  the  block-house  imme- 
diately fired,  and  with  effect,  while  the  men  got  safely  in.  The 

[*  The  distance  was  eleven  rods  =  181.5  feet. — G.  H.  F.] 

The  present  site  (1844)  of  the  lighthouse,  [built  in  1832,  taken  down  in 
1857.  The  present,  1910,  night-office  of  the  custom-house,  west  of  and  adjoin- 
ing the  south  abutment  of  Rush -street  bridge,  occupies  all  that  remains  of 
the  lighthouse  lot.  The  lighthouse  stood  a  few  feet  east  of  the  west  line  of 
said  lot,  and  about  50  feet  from  River  street  or  south  line  of  said  lot;  its  site 
would  now  be  about  the  middle  of  the  south  channel  of  the  river,  75  feet  west 
of  Rush -street  bridge. — G.  H.  F.] 


1 8  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO. 

next  morning  it  was  ascertained,  from  the  traces  of  blood  to  a 
considerable  distance  into  the  prairie,  and  from  the  appearance 
of  a  body  having  been  laid  among  the  long  grass,  that  some 
execution  had  been  done. 

On  another  occasion,  the  enemy  entered  the  esplanade  to 
steal  the  horses.  Not  finding  them  in  the  stable  as  they  had 
expected,  they  made  themselves  amends  for  their  disappoint- 
ment by  stabbing  all  the  sheep  in  the  stable,  and  then  letting 
them  loose.  The  poor  animals  flocked  toward  the  fort.  This 
gave  the  alarm — the  garrison  was  aroused — parties  were  sent  out, 
but  the  marauders  escaped,  unmolested. 

'  [Charles  Lee,  the  owner  of  Lee's  place,  lived  in  a  log  house  on  the 
south-west  corner  of  Michigan  avenue  and  East  Monroe  street.  The  last 
occupants  were  the  family  of  James  McWilliams,  the  aunt  of  Katie  Putnam. 
The  building  was  razed  about  1850  to  make  room  for  the  residence  of 
Chicago's  ex -mayor,  Walter  Smith  Gurnie,  the  finest  house  on  the  avenue, 
built  of  Milwaukee  brick.  On  his  removal  to  New  York,  it  was  occupied  by 
his  brother-in-law,  Peter  Lynch  Yoe,  and  consumed  in  the  Fire  of  1871. — 
G.  H,  F.] 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE  inmates  of  the  fort  experienced  no  further  alarm  for 
many  weeks. 

On  the  afternoon  of  August  7,*"VVin-ne-meg,  or  Catfish,  a 
Potawatomie  chief,  arrived  at  the  post,  bringing  dispatches  from 
Gen.  [William]  Hull,  j  These  announced  the  declaration  of  war 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  and  that  Gen. 
H[ull],  at  the  head  of  the  Northwestern  army,  was  on  his  way  from 
Fort  Wayne  to  [had  arrived  at]  Detroit ;  also  that  the  Island  of 
Mackinac  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  British. 

The  orders  to  the  commanding  officer,  Capt.  Heald,  were  "  to 
evacuate  the  post,  if  practicable,  and  in  that  event  to  distribute 
all  the  United -States'  property  contained  in  the  fort,  and  the 
United- States  factory  or  agency,  among  fhe  Indians  in  the 
neighborhood." 

After  having  delivered  his  despatches,  Win -ne- meg  requested  a 
private  interview  with  Mr.  K[inzie],  who  had  taken  up  his  resi- 
dence within  the  fort.  He  stated  to  Mr.  K[inzie]  that  he  was 
acquainted  with  the  purport  of  the  communications  he  had 
brought,  and  begged  him  to  ascertain  if  it  were  the  intention  of 
Capt.  Heald  to  evacuate  the  post.  He  advised  strongly  that 
such-  a  step  should  not  be  taken,  since  the  garrison  was  well 
supplied  with  ammunition,  and  with  provision  for  six  months.  It 
would,  therefore,  he  thought,  be  far  better  to  remain  until  a 
reinforcement  could  be  sent  to  their  assistance.  If,  however, 
Capt.  H[eald]  should  decide  upon  leaving  the  post,  it  should,  by 
all  means,  be  done  immediately.  The  Potawatomies,  through 
whose  country  they  must  pass,  being  ignorant  of  the  object  of 
Win-ne-meg's  mission,  a  forced  march  might  be  made  before  the 
hostile  Indians  were  prepared  to  interrupt  them. 

[  *  Capt.  Heald,  in  his  official  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  Pitts- 
burg,  Oct.  23,  1812,  gives  the  date  as  Aug.  9. — G.  H.  F.] 

[tGen.  Hull  was  in  command  of  the  United  States  forces  and  was  then  at 
Detroit;  arrived  from  Ohio  with  his  command,  July  5,  1812. — G.  H.  p.] 

19 


2O  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO. 

Of  this  advice,  so  earnestly  given,  Capt.  Heald  was  immedi- 
ately informed.  He  replied  that  it  was  his  intention  to  evacuate 
the  post,  but  that  inasmuch  as  he  had  received  orders  to  dis- 
tribute the  United-States'  property,  he  should  not  feel  justified 
in  leaving  until  he  had  collected  the  Indians  in  the  neighbor, 
hood,  and  made  an  equitable  division  among  them. 

Win-ne-meg  then  suggested  the  expediency  of  marching  out 
and  leaving  all  things  standing — possibly,  while  the  savages 
were  engaged  in  a  partition  of  the  spoils,  the  troops  might  effect 
their  retreat,  unmolested*  This  advice  was  strongly  seconded 
by  Mr.  K[inzie],  but  did  not  meet  the  approbation  of  the  com- 
manding officer. 

The  order  for  evacuating  the  post  was  read  next  morning  upon] 
parade.  It  is  difficult  to  understand  why  Capt.,  Heald,  in  such 
an  emergency,  omitted  the  usual  form  of  calling  a  council  of  war 
with  his  officers.  Perhaps  it  arose  from  a  want  of  harmonious 
feeling  between  himself  and  one  of  his  subalterns — Ensign 
Ronan  —  a  high-spirited,  and  somewhat  overbearing,  but  brave 
and  generous  young  man. 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  finding  no  council  was  called,  the) 
officers  waited  upon  Capt.  Heald,  to  be  informed  what  course  he! 
intended  to  pursue.  When  they  learned  his  intention  to  leave 
the  post,  they  remonstrated  with  him  upon  the  following 
grounds : 

First.  It  was  highly  improbable  that  the  command  would  bJ 
permitted  to  pass  through  the  country  in  safety  to  Fort  Wayne. 
For,  although  it  had  been  said  that  some  of  the  chiefs  had 
opposed  an  attack  upon  the  fort,  planned  the  preceding  autumn, 
yet,  it  was  well  known,  that  they  had  been  actuated  in  that 
matter  by  motives  of  private  regard  to  one  family,*  and  not  to 
any  general  friendly  feeling  toward  the  Americans;  and  that,  al 
any  rate,  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected  that  these  few  individuals 
would  be  able  to  control  the  whole  tribe,  who  were  thirsting  foi 
blood. 

[*The  Kinzies.] 


MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO.  21 

In  the  next  place,  their  march  must  necessarily  be  slow,  as 
their  movements  must  be  accommodated  to  the  helplessness  of 
the  women  and  children,  of  whom  there  were  a  number  with  the 
detachment.  That  of  their  small  force,  some  of  the  soldiers 
were  superannuated  and  others  invalid;  therefore,  since  the 
course  to  be  pursued  was  ^left  discretional,  their  advice  was  to 
remain  where  they  were,  and  fortify  themselves  as  strongly  as 
possible.  Succor  from  the  other  side  of  the  peninsula  might 
arrive  before  they  could  be  attacked  by  the  British  from  Mack- 
inac,  and  even  should  there  not,  it  were  far  better  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  latter  than  to  become  the  victims  of  the  savages. 

Capt.  Heald  argued  in  reply,  "that  a  special  order  had  been 
issued  by  the  war  department,  that  no  post  should  be  surren- 
dered without  battle  having  been  given ;  and  that  his  force  was 
totally  inadequate  to  an  engagement  with  the  Indians.  That  he 
should,  unquestionably,  be  censured  for  remaining,  when  there 
appeared  a  prospect  of  a  safe  march  through,  and  that  upon  the 
whole,  he  deemed  it  expedient  to  assemble  the  Indians,  distribute 
the  property  among  them,  and  then  ask  of  them  an  escort  to 
Fort  Wayne,  with  the  promise  of  a  considerable  reward  upon 
their  safe  arrival — adding,  that  he  had  full  confidence  in  the 
friendly  professions  of  the  Indians,  from  whom,  as  well  as  from 
the  soldiers,  the  capture  of  Mackinac  had  been  kept  a  profound 
secret." 

From  this  time,  the  officers  held  themselves  aloof,  and  spoke 
but  little  upon  the  subject,  though  they  considered  the  project  of 
Capt.  Heald  little  short  of  madness.  The  dissatisfaction  among 
the  soldiers  hourly  increased,  until  it  reached  a  high  degree  of 
insubordination. 

Upon  one  occasion,  as  Capt.  Heald  was  conversing  with  Mr. 
K[inzie]  upon  the  parade,  he  remarked: 

"I  could  not  remain,  even-  if  1  thought  it  best,  for  I  have 
but  a  small  store  of  provisions." 

"Why,  captain,"  said  a  soldier  who  stood  near,  forgetting  all 
etiquette  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  "you  have  cattle 
enough  to  last  the  troops  six  months." 


22  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO. 

"But,"  replied  Capt.  H[eald],  "I  have  no  salt  to  preserve  the 
beef  with." 

"Then  jerk*  it,"  said  the  man,  "as  the  Indians  do  their  ven- 
ison." 

The  Indians  now  became  daily  more  unruly.  Entering  the 
fort  in  defiance  of  the  sentinels,  they  made  their  way  without 
ceremony  into  the  quarters  of  the  officers.  On  one  occasion,  an 
Indian  took  up  a  rifle  and  fired  it  in  the  parlor  of  the  command- 
ing officer,  as  an  expression  of  defiance.  Some  were  of  opinion 
that  this  was  intended,  among  the  young  men,  as  a  signal  for 
an  attack.  The  old  chiefs  passed  backward  and  forward  among 
the  assembled  groups,  with  the  appearance  of  the  most  lively 
agitation,  while  the  squaws  rushed  to  and  fro  in  great  excite- 
ment, and  evidently  prepared  for  some  fearful  scene. 

Any  further  manifestation  of  ill-feeling  was,  however,  sup- 
pressed for  the  present,  and  Capt.  Heald,  strange  as  it  may  seem, 
continued  to  entertain  a  conviction  of  his  having  created  so 
amicable  a  disposition  among  the  Indians  as  would  ensure  the- 
safety  of  the  command  on  their  march  to  Fort  Wayne. 

*  This  is  done  by  cutting  the  meat  in  thin  slices,  placing  it  upon  a  scaffold 
and  making  a  slow  fire  under  it,  which  dries  and  smokes  it  at  the  same  time. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

r  I AHUS  passed  the  time  until  August  12.  The  feelings  of  the 
JL  inmates  of  the  fort  during  this  time  may  be  better  imagined 
than  described.  Each  morning  that  dawned  seemed  to  bring 
them  nearer  to  that  most  appalling  fate — butchery  by  a  savage 
foe — and  at  night  they  scarcely  dared  yield  to  slumber,  lest  they 
should  be  aroused  by  the  war-whoop  and  tomahawk.  Gloom 
and  distrust  prevailed,  and  the  want  of  unanimity  among  the 
officers  debarred  them  the  consolation  they  might  have  found  in 
mutual  sympathy  and  encouragement. 

The  Indians  being  assembled  from  the  neighboring  villages, 
a  council  was  held  with  them  on  the  i2th.  Capt.  H[eald],  only, 
attended  on  the  part  of  the  military.  He  requested  his  officers 
to  accompany  him,  but  they  declined.  They  had  been  secretly 
informed  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  young  chiefs  to  fall 
upon  the  officers  and  massacre  them  while  in  council;  but  they 
could  not  persuade  Capt.  Heald  of  the  truth  of  their  information. 
They,  therefore,  only  waited  until  he  had  left  the  garrison,  when 
they  took  command  of  the  block-house,  which  overlooked  the 
esplanade  on  which  the  council  was  held,  opened  the  port-holes, 
and  pointed  the  cannon  so  as  to  command  the  whole  assembly. 
By  these  measures,  probably,  the  lives  of  the  whites  who  were 
present  in  council  were  preserved. 

In  council,  the  commanding  officer  informed  the  Indians  of 
his  intention  to  distribute  among  them,  the  next  day,  not  only 
the  goods  lodged  in  the  United -States  factory,  but  also  the 
ammunition  and  provisions,  with  which  the  garrison  was  well 
supplied.  He  then  requested  of  the  Potawatomies  an  escort  to 
Fort  Wayne,  promising  them  a  liberal  reward  upon  their  arrival 
there,  in  addition  to  the  presents  they  were  now  to  receive. 
With  many  professions  of  friendship  and  good-will,  the  savages 
assented  to  all  he  proposed  and  promised  all  he  required. 

After  the  council,  Mr.  K[inzie],  who  understood  well,  not  only 
the  Indian  character,  but  the  present  tone  of  feeling  among 

23 


24  MASSACRE   AT   CHCAGO. 

them,  waited  upon  Capt.  Heald,  in  the  hope  of  opening  his  eyes 
to  the  present  posture  of  affairs. 

He  reminded  him  that,  since  the  troubles  with  the  Indians 
upon  the  Wabash  and  its  vicinity,  there  had  appeared  a  settled 
plan  of  hostilities  toward  the  whites ;  in  consequence  of  which,  it 
had  been  the  policy  of  the  Americans  to  withhold  from  them 
whatever  would  enable  them  to  carry  on  their  warfare  upon  the 
defenceless  settlers  on  the  frontier. 

Mr.  K[inzie]  recalled  to  Capt.  H[eald]  how  that  he  had  him- 
self left  home  for  Detroit,  the  preceding  autumn,  and  receiving, 
when  he  had  proceeded  as  far  as  De  Charmes,*  the  intelligence 
of  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  he  had  immediately  returned  to 
Chicago,  that  he  might  despatch  orders  to  his  traders  to  furnish 
no  ammunition  to  the  Indians;  all  that  they  had  on  hand  was 
therefore  secreted,  and  such  of  the  traders  as  had  not  already 
started  for  their  wintering-grounds,  took  neither  powder  nor  shot 
with  their  outfit. 

Capt.  Heald  was  struck  with  the  impolicy  of  furnishing  the 
enemy  (for  such  they  must  now  consider  their  old  neighbors), 
with  arms  against  himself,  and  determined  to  destroy  all  the 
ammunition,  except  what  should  be  necessary  for  the  use  of  his 
own  troops. 

On  the  1 3th,  the  goods,  consisting  of  blankets,  broadcloths, 
calicos,  paints,  etc.,  were  distributed,  as  stipulated.  The  same 
evening,  the  ammunition  and  liquor  were  carried  partly  into  the 
sally-port  and  thrown  into  a  well  which  had  been  dug  there 
to  supply  the  garrison  with  water,  in  case  of  emergency;  the 
remainder  was  transported  as  secretly  as  possible  through  the 
northern  gate,  the  heads  of  the  barrels  knocked  in,  and  the 
contents  poured  into  the  river. 

The  same  fate  was  shared  by  a  large  quantity  of  alcohol, 
belonging  to  Mr.  K[inzie],  which  had  been  deposited  in  a  ware- 
house near  his  residence,  opposite  the  fort. 

The  Indians  suspected  what  was  going  on,  and  crept  serpent- 
like,  as  near  the  scene  of  action  as  possible,  but  a  vigilant  watch 

*  A  trading  establishment  —  now  Ypsilanti,  [Mich]. 


MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO.  2$ 

was  kept  up,  and  no  one  was  suffered  to  approach,  but  those 
engaged  in  the  affair.  All  the  muskets,  not  necessary  for  the 
march,  were  broken  up  and  thrown  into  the  well,*  together  with 
the  bags  of  shot,  flints,  gun-screws,  etc. 

Some  relief  to  the  general  despondency  was  afforded  by  the 
arrival,  on  August  14,  of  Capt.  [William]  Wells, f  with  fifteen  friendly 
Miamis. 

[*  In  1856,  when  Michigan  avenue  was  opened  through  the  fort  grounds  to- 
the  river,  preparatory  for  the  erection  of  the  first  Rush -street  bridge,  most  of 
the  buildings  within  the  fort  were  razed;  one  or  two,  probably  three,  were 
moved.  The  piles  for  the  center -pier  or  turntable  of  the  bridge  were  driven 
one  half  on  the  south  shore  and  the  other  half  in  the  river.  Then  the  present 
south  channel  was  excavated,  thereby  straightening  and  widening  the  river. 
During  this  excavation  there  was  exposed  a  filled-up  well.  At  its  bottom  was 
found  a  quantity  of  black  sand  that  smelled  and  looked  like  powder,  but  after 
exposure  to  the  sunlight  lost  its  smell  and  black  color.  There  was  also  a 
quantity  of  lead  bullets,  flints,  parts  of  muskets,  one  musket  nearly  complete 
— the  wood  stock  crumbled  on  exposure  to  the  air. — G.  H.  F.] 

[t  William  Wells,  brother  of  Col.  Samuel  Wells,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  was- 
born  in  Kentucky  and  stolen  by  the  Miami  Indians,  when  about  twelve  years 
old,  as  he  was  on  his  way  from  school  to  the  home  of  William  Pope,  one 
of  the  founders  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  the  father  of  William,  John,  and 
Nathaniel,  with  whom  he  and  his  brother  Samuel  resided.  He  was  adopted 
by  Little  Turtle — Me-che-kau-nah-qua,  chief  of  the  Miamis,  and  at 
maturity  married  his  daughter — Wau-nan-ga-peth,  by  whom  he  had  a  large 
family,  many  of  their  descendants  now,  1910,  reside  in  Toledo,  O.  He 
fought  with  the  Indians  in  the  defeats  of  Gens.  Josiah  Harmer,  Oct.  19-22, 
1790,  and  Arthur  St.  Clair,  Nov.  4,  1791.  Discovered  by  his  relatives,  he 
was  persuaded  to  leave  the  Indians  and  join  the  pale -face  army.  He  was 
captain  of  a  company  of  spies  under  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne  from  July  28  to 
Dec.  — ,  1794,  and  was  a  most  valuable  and  faithful  officer.  At  the  peace- 
treaty  at  Greenville,  Ohio,  July  15,  1795,  he  was  an  interpreter  and  witness;, 
in  1805  he  was  appointed  justice -of -the -peace  and  Indian  agent  at  Ft. 
Wayne,  Ind.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Col.  Frederick  Geiger,  of  Louis- 
ville, Ky. ,  by  whom  he  had  children,  none  of  whom  arrived  at  maturity; 
after  his  death  she  returned  to  her  relatives  at  Louisville  and  married.  His 
tomahawk  was  delivered  to  his  Indian  widow  by  an  Indian  who  "belonged'" 
to  him  and  was  with  him  when  he  was  killed,  and  after  telling  of  Wells' 
death  disappeared.  This  tomahawk  was  sent  by  his  Toledo  descendants  to- 
Hon.  John  Wentworth,  and  is  now  in  the  custody  of  the  Chicago  Calumet 


26  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO. 

Of  this  brave  man,  who  forms  so  conspicuous  a  figure  in  our 
frontier  annals,  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  say  more,  than  that  he 
had  been  residing  from  his  boyhood  among  the  Indians,  and  con- 
sequently possessed  a  perfect  knowledge  of  their  character  and 
habits. 

He  had  heard  at  Fort  Wayne  of  the  order  for  evacuating  Fort 
Dearborn,  and  knowing  the  hostile  determination  of  the  Pota- 
watomies,  he  had  made  a  rapid  march  across  the  country  to  pre- 
vent the  exposure  of  his  relative,  Capt.  Heald,  and  his  troops 
to  certain  destruction. 

But  he  came  "all  too  late."  When  he  reached  the  post,  he 
found  that  the  ammunition  had  been  destroyed,  and  the  provisions 
given  to  the  Indians.  There  was,  therefore,  now,  no  alternative, 
and  every  preparation  was  made  for  the  march  of  the  troops  on 
the  following  morning. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  a  second  council  was  held 
with  the  Indians.  They  expressed  great  indignation  at  the  des- 
truction of  the  ammunition  and  liquor. 

Notwithstanding  the  precautions  that  had  been  taken  to  pre- 
serve secrecy,  the  noise  of  knocking  in  the  heads  of  the  barrels 
had  too  plainly  betrayed  the  operations  of  the  preceding  night; 
and  so  great  was  the  quantity  of  liquor  thrown  into  the  river, 
that  the  taste  of  the  water,  the  next  morning,  was,  as  one 
expressed  it,  "strong  grog." 

Murmurs  and  threats  were  everywhere  heard  among  the  savages. 
It  was  evident  that  the  first  moment  of  exposure  would  subject 
the  troops  to  some  manifestation  of  their  disappointment  and 
resentment. 

Among  the  chiefs  were  several  who,  although  they  shared  the 
general  hostile  feeling  of  their  tribe  toward  the  Americans,  yet 

Club;  as  to  its  authenticity,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  the  writer  has  a 
drawing  of  it,  made  in  1812,  by  Samuel  Morrison,  a  civil  engineer  and 
surveyor,  then  living  at  Fort  Wayne,  by  whom  it  was  presented.  Wells' 
Indian  name  was  Black  Snake.  See  additional  notes  by  Hon.  lohn  Went- 
worth,  in  "Fort  Dearborn"— Fergus'  Historical  Series,  No.  16;  and  No.  27 
for  paper  by  William  Wells  on  "Indian  Customs."— G.  H.  F.] 


MASSACRE   AT   CHCAGO.  2/ 

retained  a  personal  regard  for  the  troops,  at  this  post,  and  for 
the  few  citizens  of  the  place.  These  chiefs  exerted  their  utmost 
influence  to  allay  the  revengeful  feelings  of  the  young  men,  and 
to  avert  their  sanguinary  designs,  but  without  effect. 

On  the  evening  succeeding  the  last  council,  Black  Partridge, 
a  conspicous  chief,  entered  the  quarters  of  the  commanding 
officer. 

"Father,"  said  he,  "I  come  to  deliver  up  to  you  the  medal 
I  wear.  It  was  given  me  by  the- Americans,  and  I  have  long 
worn  it  in  token  of  our  mutual  friendship.  But  our  young  men* 
are  resolved  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  whites. 
I  can  not  restrain  them,  and  I  will  not  wear  a  token  of  peace 
while  I  am  compelled  to  act  as  an  enemy." 

Had  further  evidence  been  wanting,  this  circumstance  should 
have  sufficiently  proved  to  the  devoted  band,  the  justice  of  their 
melancholy  anticipations.  Nevertheless,  they  went  steadily  on 
with  the  necessary  preparations;  and  amid  the  horrors  of  their 
situation,  there  were  one  or  two  gallant  hearts,  who  strove  to 
encourage  in  their  desponding  companions,  the  hopes  of  escape, 
that  they  were  far  from  indulging  themselves. 

Of  the  ammunition,  there  had  been  reserved  but  twenty-five 
rounds  besides  one  box  of  cartridges,  contained  in  the  baggage- 
wagons.  This  must  under  any  circumstances  of  danger,  have 
proved  an  inadequate  supply,  but  the  prospect  of  a  fatiguing 
march  in  their  present  ineffective  state,  forbid  their  embarrassing 
themselves  with  a  larger  quantity. 

[*The  Indians  who  participated  in  the  massacre  were  not  those  who  lived 
in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  After  the  capture  of  Fort  Mackinac,  under  the 
command  of  Lieut.  Porter  Hanks,  July  12,  1812,  by  the  British  and  Indians 
under  command  of  Capt.  Charles  Roberts,  Indian  runners  informed  the 
adjacent  tribes  and  immediately  the  young  hoodlums  from  each  tribe  started 
for  Fort  Dearborn,  the  number  increasing  as  they  neared  the  fort.  These 
were  the  "young  men"  Black  Partridge  could  not  control. — G.  H.  F.] 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE  morning  of  the  i5th  arrived.    All  things  were  in  readi- 
ness, and  nine  o'clock  was  the  hour  named  for  starting. 
Mr.  Kjjnzie]  had  volunteered   to  accompany  the  troops  in 
their  march,  and  had  entrusted  his  family  to  the  care  of  some 
friendly  Indians,  who  had  promised  to  convey  them  in  a  boat 
around   the    head  of  Lake  Michigan,   to    a    point*  on  the  St. 
Joseph's  River;  there  to  be  joined  by  the   troops,   should  the 
prosecution  of  their  march  be  permitted  them. 

Early  in  the  morning,  Mr.  K[inzie]  received  a  message  from  To- 
pe-ne-be,  a  chief  of  the  St.  Joseph's  band,  informing  him  that 
mischief  was  intended  by  the  Potawatomies,  who  had  promised  to 
escort  the  detachment;  and  urging  him  to  relinquish  his  design 
of  accompanying  the  troops  by  land,  promising  that  the  boat 
which  should  contain  himself  and  family  should  be  permitted  to 
pass  in  safety  to  St.  Joseph's. 

Mr.  K[inzie]  declined  accepting  this  proposal,  as  he  believed 
that  his  presence  might  operate  as  a  restraint  on  the  fury  of 
the  savages,  so  warmly  were  the  greater  part  attached  to  himself 
and  family. 

The  party  in  the  boat  consisted  of  Mrs.  K[inzie]  and  her  four 
younger  children,!  a  clerk  of  Mr.  K[inzie]'s,  two  servants,  and  the 

*  The  spot  now  called  Bertrand,  then  known  by  the  name  of  Pare  aux 
Vaches,  from  its  having  been  a  pasture-ground  belonging  to  an  old  French 
fort  in  that  neighborhood. 

[Designated  by  Lieut.  James  McGowan  Swearingen,  in  his  march  overland 
from  Detroit  in  July,  1803,  with  the  troops  to  erect  a  fort  at  Chicago,  as 
"Kinzie's  improvement,"  30  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph 
River. — G.  H.  F.] 

[This  fort  is  said  to  be  the  one  erected  by  LaSalle  in  1679,  when  he 
established  a  "depot  for  supplies  and  goods."  A  few  miles  up  the  river 
was  the  village  of  To-pin-e-be's  band  and  known  as  the  "St.  Joseph  of 
Lake  Michigan." — G.  H.  F.] 

[tMrs.  Kinzie,  her  four  children  —  John  Harris,  Ellen  Marion,  Maria 
Indiana,  and  Robert  Allan,  and  j  osette  —  Grutte,  daughter  of  Fran9ois  Lafram- 
boise,  later  the  second  wife  of  Gen.  Jean  Haptiste  Beaubien. — G.  H.  F.  ] 

'       28 


MASSACRE   AT    CHICAGO.  29 

boatmen,  beside  the  two  Indians,  who  acted  as  their  protectors. 
The  boat  started,  but  had  scarcely  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  when  another  messenger  from  To-pe-ne  be  arrived  to 
detain  them  where  they  were. 

In  breathless  expectation  sat  the  wife  and  mother.  She  was 
a  woman  of  uncommon  energy  and  strength  of  character,  yet 
her  heart  died  within  her  as  she  folded  her  arms  around  her 
helpless  infants,  and  gazed  upon  the  march  of  her  husband  and 
eldest  child  to  almost  certain  destruction. 

As  the  troops  left  the  fort,  the  band  struck  up  the  "Dead 
March."  On  they  came  in  military  array,  but  with  solemn  mein. 
Capt.  Wells  took  the  lead,  at  the  head  of  his  little  band  of 
Miamis  —  his  face  blackened,  in  token  of  his  impending  fate. 
They  took  their  route  along  the  lake  shore.  When  they  reached 
the  point  where  commences  the  range  of  sandhills,  intervening 
between  the  prairie  and  the  beach,  the  escort  of  Potawatomies, 
in  number  about  five  hundred,  kept  the  level  of  the  prairie 
instead  of  continuing  along  the  beach,  with  the  Americans  and 
Miamis. 

They  had  marched  perhaps  a  mile  and  a  half,  when  Capt. 
Wells,  who  was  somewhat  in  advance,  with  his  Miamis,  came 
riding  furiously  back. 

"They  are  ajjout  to  attack  us,"  shouted  he,  "form  instantly, 
and  charge  upon  them." 

Scarcely  were  the  words  uttered  when  a  volley  was  showered 
from  among  the  sandhills.  The  troops  were  hastily  brought 
into  line,  and  charged  upon  the  bank.  One  man,  a  veteran  of 
seventy  years,  fell  as  they  ascended. 

The  remainder  of  the  scene  is  best  described  in  the  words  of  an 
eye-witness  and  participator  in  the  tradgedy — Mrs.  [Margaret] 
H[elmj,  the  wife  of  Capt.  (then  Lieut.)  H[elm],  and  step-daughter 
of  Mr.  [John]  K[inzie]: 

"After  we  had  left  the  bank  and  gained  the  prairie,  the  action 
became  general.  The  Miamis  fled  at  the  outset.  Their  chief 
rode  up  to  the  Potawatomies,  and  said, 


30  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

"  'You  have  deceived  the  Americans,  and  us;  you  have  done 
a  bad  action,  and  (brandishing  his  tomahawk)  I  will  be  the  first' 
to  head  a  party  of  Americans,  and  return  to  punish  your 
treachery';  so  saying,  he  galloped  after  his  companions,  who 
were  now  scouring  across  the  prairie. 

"The  troops  behaved  most  gallantly.  There  were  but  a  hand- 
ful, but  they  resolved  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible. 
Our  horses  pranced  and  bounded,  and  could  hardly  be  re- 
strained, as  the  balls  whistled  among  them.  I  drew  off  a  little, 
and  gazed  upon  'my  husband  and  father,  who  were  yet  unharmed. 
I  felt  that  my  hour  had  come,  and  endeavored  to  forget  those 
I  loved,  and  prepare  myself  for  my  approaching  fate. 

"While  I  was  thus  engaged,  the  surgeon,  Dr.  V[an  Voorhis], 
came  up.  He  was  badly  wounded.  His  horse  had  been  shot 
under  him,  and  had  received  a  ball  in  his  leg.  Every  muscle 
of  his  countenance  was  quivering  with  the  agony  of  terror.  He 
said  to  me, 

'"Do  you  think  they  will  take  our  lives?  I  am  badly  wounded, 
but  I  think  not  mortally.  Perhaps  we  might  purchase  our  lives 
by  promising  them  a  large  reward.  Do  you  think  there  is  any 
chance?' " 

" 'Dr.  V[an  Voorhis],'  said  I,  'do  not  let  us  waste  the  few 
moments  that  yet  remain  to  us,  in  such  hopes.  Our  fate  is  inev- 
itable. In  a  few  moments,  we  must  appear  before  the  bar  of 
God.  Let  us  endeavor  to  make  what  preparation  is  yet  in  our 
power.' 

"'Oh!  I  can  not  die!'  exclaimed  he,  'I  am  not  fit  to  die — if  I 
had  but  a  short  time  to  prepare — death  is  awful!' 

"I  pointed  to  Ensign  Ronan,  who,  although  mortally  wounded, 
and  nearly  down,  was  fighting  with  desperation,  upon  one  knee. 

"'Look  at  that  man,'  said  I,  'at  least,  he  dies  like  a 
soldier.' 

"'Yes,' replied  the  unfortunate  man,  with  a  convulsive  gasp, 
'but  he  has  no  terrors  of  the  future — he  is  an  unbeliever!' 

"At  this  moment,  a  young  Indian  raised  his  tomahawk  at  me. 
By  springing  aside,  I  avoided  the  blow,  which  was  intended  for 


MASSACRE   AT  CHICAGO.  31 

my  skull,  but  which  alighted  on  my  shoulder.  I  seized  him 
around  the  neck,  and  while  exerting  my  utmost  efforts  to  get 
possession  of  his  scalping-knife,  which  hung  in  a  scabbard  over 
his  breast,  I  was  dragged  from  his  grasp  by  another  and  an  older 
Indian. 

"The  latter  bore  me,  struggling  and  resisting,  toward  the  lake. 
Nothwithstanding  the  rapidity  with  which  I  was  hurried  along, 
I  recognized,  as  I  passed  them,  the  lifeless  remains  of  the  unfort- 
unate surgeon.  Some  murderous  tomahawk  had  stretched  him 
upon  the  very  spot  where  I  had  last  seen  him. 

"I  was  immediately  plunged  into  the  water,  and  held  there 
with  a  forcible  hand,  notwithstanding  my  resistance.  I  soon 
perceived,  however,  that  the  object  of  my  captor  was  not  to 
drown  me,  as  he  held  me  firmly  in  such  a  position  as  to  place 
my  head  above  the  water.  This  reassured  me,  and  regarding 
him,  attentively,  I  soon  recognized,  in  spite  of  the  paint  with 
which  he  was  disguised,  The  Black  Partridge. 

"When  the  firing  had  somewhat  subsided,  my  preserver  bore 
me  from  the  water,  and  conducted  me  up  the  sandbanks.  It 
was  a  burning  August  morning,  and  walking  through  the  sand,  in 
my  drenched  condition,  was  inexpressibly  painful  and  fatiguing. 
I  stooped  and  took  off  my  shoes,  to  free  them  from  the  sand, 
with  which  they  were  nearly  filled,  when  a  squaw  seized  and 
carried  them  off,  and  I  was  obliged  to  proceed  without  them. 

"When  we  had  gained  the  prairie,  I  was  met  by  my  father,  who 
told  me  that  my  husband  was  safe,  and  but  slightly  wounded. 
They  led  me  gently  back  toward  the  Chicago  River,  along  the 
southern  bank  of  which  was  the  Potawatomie  encamp- 
ment.* 

[  *  The  Indian  encampment  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  "  little  stream  "  that 
entered  the  river,  from  the  south  side,  at  the  foot  of  State  street.  This 
"little  stream"  was  crossed  by  a  log  bridge,  between  South  Water  and  Lake 
streets,  and  was  used  by  those  going  to  and  from  the  fort.  The  source  of  this 
stream  was  in  the  square  now  occupied  by  the  court-house,  and  flowed  diag- 
onally to  about  State  and  Lake  streets,  where  it  was  joined  by  another  small 
stream,  its  source  being  about  I2th  street,  between  State  and  Dearborn  streets; 
and  crossing  diagonally  from  the  rear  of  the  American  Express  building  on 


32  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

At  one  time,  I  was  placed  upon  a  horse  without  a  saddle,  but 
soon  finding  the  motion  insupportable,  I  sprang  off.  Supported 
partly  by  my  kind  conductor,  [Black  Partridge],  and  partly  by 
another  Indian,  Pe-so-tum,  who  held  dangling  in  his  hand,  the 
scalp  of  Capt.  Wells,  I  dragged  my  fainting  steps  to  one  of  the 
wigwams. 

"The  wife  of  Wau-be-ne-mah,  a  chief  from  the  Illinois  River, 
was  standing  near,  and  seeing  my  exhausted  condition,  she 
seized  a  kettle,  dipped  up  some  water  from  a  little  stream*  that 
flowed  near,  threw  into  it  some  maple  sugar,  and  stirring  it  up 
with  her  hand,  gave  it  to  me  to  drink.  This  act  of  kindness, 
in  the  midst  of  so  many  atrocities,  touched  me  most  sensibly, 
but  my  attention  was  soon  diverted  to  other  objects. 

"The  fort  had  become  a  scene  of  plunder  to  such  as  remained 
after  the  troops  had  marched  out.  The  cattle  had  been  shot 
down  as  they  ran  at  large,  and  lay  dead  or  dying  around.  This 
,work  of  butchery  had  commenced  upon  our  leaving  the  fort. 

"  I  well  remembered  a  remark  of  Ensign  Ronan,  as  the  firing 
went  on: 

'Such,'  turning  to  me,  'is  to  be  our  fate — to  be  shot  down 
like  brutes!' 

Monroe  to  Madison  and  State  srreets,  thence  joining  the  "small  stream" 
about  Lake  street.  The  writer  has  skated  from  the  rear  of  the  American 
Express  building  to  I2th  street,  flags  and  cattails  on  each  side,  and  gathered 
hazel  nuts  at  Van  Buren  street  and  5th  avenue. — G.  H.  F.] 

*Just  by  the  present  State-street  market,  (1844).  [Now,  1911,  the  south 
abutment  of  State-street  bridge.] 

[This  State -street  market  was  originally  located  in  what  is  now  the 
center  of  Market  street,  north'side  of  Randolph  street.  North  of  the  market 
was  the  lumber-yard  of  Sylvester  Lind.  Before  the  city  vacated  this  site 
(1846)  and  gave  in  exchange  the  water -lots,  where  is  now  Lind's  block — the 
only  building  on  the  south  side  in  the  burned  district  that  was  not  destroyed 
in  the  great  fire  of  1871 — the  market  had  been  moved  to  the  river's  bank  in 
the  middle  of  State  street.  Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  State -street 
market,  erected  in  the  middle  of  State  street  between  Randolph  street 
and  the  alley,  north,  in  1848,  and  demolished  in  1858,  the  market  on  the 
river's  bank  was  again  moved  to  the  middle  of  Market  street,  north  side  of 
Washington  street,  one  block  south  of  its  original  location. — G.  H.  F.] 


MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO.  33 

'"Well,  Sir,'  said  the  commanding  officer,  who  overheard  him, 
'are  you  afraid?' 

"  'No,'  replied  the  high-spirited  young  man,  'I  can  march  up 
to  the  enemy,  where  you  dare  not  show  your  face;'  and  his 
subsequent  gallant  behavior  showed  this  to  be  no  idle  boast. 

"As  the  noise  of  the  firing  grew  gradually  less,  and  the  strag- 
glers from  the  victorious  party  dropped  in,  I  received  confir- 
mation of  what  my  father  had  hurriedly  communicated  in  our 
rencontre  on  the  lake  shore;  namely,  that  the  whites  had  sur- 
rendered after  the  loss  of  about  two -thirds  of  their  number. 
They  had  stipulated  for  the  preservation  of  their  lives,  and  those 
of  the  remaining  women  and  children,  and  for  their  delivery  at 
some  of  the  British  posts,  unless  ransomed  by  traders  in  the 
Indian  country.  It  appears  that  the  wounded  prisoners  were 
not  considered  as  included  in  the  stipulation,  and  a  horrible 
scene  occurred  upon  their  being  brought  into  camp. 

"An  old  squaw,  infuriated  by  the  loss  of  friends,  or  excited 
by  the  sanguinary  scenes  around  her,  seemed  possessed  by  a 
demoniac  ferocity.  She  seized  a  stable-fork,  and  assaulted  one 
miserable  victim,  who  lay  groaning  and  writhing  in  the  agony 
of  his  wounds,  aggravated  by  the  scorching  beams  of  the  sun. 
With  a  delicacy  of  feeling  scarcely  to  be  expected,  under  such 
circumstances,  Wau-be-ne-mah  stretched  a  mat  across  two  poles, 
between  me  and  this  dreadful  scene.  I  was  thus  spared  in  some 
degree,  a  view  of  its  horrors,  although  I  could  not  entirely  close 
my.  ears  to  the  cries  of  the  sufferer.  The  following  night,  five 
more  of  the  wounded  prisoners  were  tomahawked." 

But  why  dwell  upon  this  painful  scene?  Why  describe  the 
butchery  of  the  children,  twelve  of  whom,  placed  together  in  one 
baggage-wagon,  fell  bene'ath  the  merciless  tomahawk  of  one 
young  savage?  This  atrocious  act  was  committed  after  the 
whites,  twenty-seven  in  number,  had  surrendered.  When  Capt. 
Wells  beheld  it,  he  exclaimed, 

'"Is  that  their  game?     Then  I  will  kill,  too!'" 


34  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

"So  saying,  he  turned  his  horse's  head,  and  started  for  the 
Indian  camp,  near  the  fort,  where  had  been  left  their  squaws 
and  children. 

"Several  Indians  pursued  him,  firing  at  him  as  he  galloped 
along.  He  laid  himself  flat  on  the  neck  of  his  horse,  loading 
and  firing  in  that  position.  At  length,  the  balls  of  his  pursuers 
took  effect,  killing  his  horse,  and  severely  wounding  himself.  At 
this  moment,  he  was  met  by  Win-ne-meg  and  Wan-ban-see,  who 
endeavored  to  save  him  from  the  savages  who  had  now  over- 
taken him;  out  as  they  supported  him  along,  after  having  dis- 
engaged him  from  his  horse,  he  received  his  death  blow  from 
one  of  the  party  (Pee-so-tum),  who  stabbed  him  in  the  back. 

"The  heroric  resolution  of  one  of  the  soldiers'  wives*  deserves 
to  be  recorded.  She  had,  from  the  first,  expressed  a  determin- 
ation never  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  savages^  believing  that 
their  prisoners  were  always  subjected  to  tortures  worse  than 
death. 

"When,  therefore,  a  party  came  upon  her,  to  make  her  pris- 
oner, she  fought  with  desperation,  refusing  to  surrender,  although 
assured  of  safe  treatment;  and  literally  suffered  herself  to  be  cut 
to  pieces,  rather  than  become  their  captive. 

"From  the  Potawatomie  encampment,  the  family  of  Mr.  K[inzie] 
were  conveyed  across  the  river  to  their  own  mansion.  There, 
they  were  closely  guarded  by  their  Indian  friends,  whose  inten- 
tion it  was  to  carry  them  to  Detroit  for  security.  The  rest  of  the 
prisoners  remained  at  the  wigwams  of  their  captors. 

"The  following  morning,  the  work  of  plunder  being  completed, 
the  Indians  set  fire  to  the  fort.  A  very  equitable  distribution 
of  the  finery  appeared  to  have  been  made,  and  shawls,  ribbons, 
and  feathers  were  seen  fluttering  about  in  all  directions.  The 
ludicrous  appearance  of  one  young  fellow,  who  had  arrayed 
himself  in  a  muslin  gown,  and  the  bonnet  of  the  commanding 
officer's  lady,  would,  under  other  circumstances,  have  afforded 
matter  of  amusement. 

[*Mrs.  Phelim  Corhin.] 


MASSACRE  AT  CHICAGO.  35 

"Black  Partridge  and  Wau-ban-see,  with  three  others  of  the 
tribe,  having  established  themselves  in  the  porch  of  the  building,  as 
sentinels,  to  protect  the  family  of  Mr.  K[inzie]  from  any  evil  that 
the  young  men  might  be  excited  to  commit,  all  remained  tranquil, 
for  a  short  space  of  time  after  the  conflagration. 

"Very  soon,  however,  a  party  of  Indians  from  the  Wabash 
made  their  appearance.  These  were  the  -most  hostile  and  impla- 
cable of  all  the  bands  of  Potawatomies. 

"Being  more  remote,  they  had  shared  less  than  some  of  their 
brethren  in  the  kindness  of  Mr.  K[inzie]  and  his  family,  and 
consequently  their  sentiments  of  regard  for  them  were  less 
powerful. 

"Runners  had  been  sent  to  the  villages,  to  apprise  them  of  the 
intended  evacuation  of  the  post,  as  well  as  the  plan  of  the 
Indians  assembled,  to  attack  the  troops. 

"Thirsting  to  participate  in  such  a  scene,  they  hurried  on, 
and  great  was  their  mortification,  on  arriving  at  the  river  Aux 
Plaines,  to  meet  with  a  party  of  their  friends,  having  their  chief 
Ne-scot-ne-meg  badly  wounded,  and  to  learn  that  the  battle 
was  over,  the  spoils  divided,  and  the  scalps  all  taken. 

"On  arriving  at  Chicago,  they  blackened  their  faces,  and  pro- 
ceeded toward  the  residence  of  Mr.  K[inzie]. 

"From  his  station  on  the  piazza,  Black  Partridge  had  watched 
their  approach,  and  his  fears  were  particularly  awakened  for  the 
safety  of  Mrs.  H[elm],  the  step-daughter  of  Mr.  K[inzie],  who 
had  recently  come  to  the  post,  and  was  personally  unknown  to 
the  more  remote  Indians.  By  his  advice,  she  was  made  to 
assume  the  ordinary  dress"  of  a  French  woman  of  the  country, 
namely,  a  short  gown  and  petticoat,  with  a  blue-cotton  hand- 
kerchief wrapped  around  her  head;  and  in  this  disguise  she 
was  conducted  by  Black  Partridge  himself,  to  the  house  of 
[Antoine]  Ouilmette,*  a  Frenchman  with  a  half  breed  wife,  who 

[*"Antoine  Ouilmette  was  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  fborn  near  Montreal,  in 
1760;  as  an  employe  of  the  American  Fur-Company,  he  came  to  Chicago  in 
July,  1790,  and  without  doubt  was  the  first  white  settler  of  Chicago.  When 


36  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

formed  a  part  of  the  establishment  of  Mr.  K[inzie],  and  whose 
dwelling  was  close  at  hand. 

"It  so  happened  that  the  Indians  came  first  to  this  house,  in 
their  search  for  prisoners.  As  they  approached,  the  inmates, 
fearful  that  the  fair  complexion  and  general  appearance  of  Mrs. 
H[elm]  might  betray  her  for  an  American,  raised  the  large  feather 
bed  and  placed  her  under  the  edge  of  it,  upon  the  bedstead,  with 
her  face  to  the  wall.  Mrs.  Bisson,  the  sister  of  Ouilmette's 
wife,  then  seated  herself  with  her  sewing  upon  the  front  of  the 
bed. 

"  It  was  a  hot  day  in  August,  and  the  feverish  excitement  of 
fear  and  agitation,  together  with  her  position,  which  was  nearly 
suffocating,  were  so  painful  that  Mrs.  H[elm]  at  length  entreated 
to  be  released  and  given  up  to  the  Indians. 

'"I  can  but  die/  said  she,  'let  them  put  an  end  to  my  mis- 
eries at  once.' 

"Mrs.  Bisson  replied,  'Your  death  would  be  the  signal  for  the 
destruction  of  us  all,  for  Black  Partridge  is  resolved,-  if  one  drop 
of  the  blood  of  your  family  is  spilled,  to  take  the  lives  of  all 

the  troops  arrived,  Aug.  17,  1803,  to  erect  the  first  Fort  Dearborn,  he 
supplied  them  with  beef,  pork,  vegetables,  etc.,  and  on  the  arrival  of  John 
Kinzie  in  May,  1804,  he  is  said  to  have  been  in  his  employ.  His  house  and 
gardens  adjoined  Kinzie's,  formerly  owned  by  Piere  le  Mai. 

After  the  massacre  and  until  July  4,  1816,  when  the  troops  under  Capt. 
Hezekiah  Bradley,  arrived  to  rebuild  the  fort,  he  was  the  only  white  resident 
of  Chicago. 

In  1814,  he  with  Alexander  Robinson  cultivated  the  fort  gardens,  and  with 
the  corn  crop  of  1816  supplied  the  soldiers  in  the  fort. 

About  1796-7,  at  Grosse  Point  where  a  band  of  the  Potawatomies  were 
located,  he  married  one  of  their  women,  Archange,  daughter  of  Fra^ois 
Chevalier,  a  Frenchman  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Fur -Company,  and 
her  mother  was  said  to  be  a  half-  breed ;  she  was  born  at  Sugar  Creek,  Mich., 
in  1764,  and  died  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  Nov.  25,  1840.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children :  Joseph,  Louis,  Franfois,  Michel,  Elizabeth, 
Archange,  Josette,  and  Sophie. 

The  two  sections  of  land  that  were  ceded  to  her  at  Grosse  Point,  at  the 
treaty  of  Prairie  du  Chien,  concluded  July  29,  1829,  were  surveyed  by 
government  surveyors  in  1842;  patent  issued  Oct.  29,  1842. — G.  H.  F.] 


'MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO.  37 

concerned  in  it,  even  his  nearest  friends,  and  if  once  the  work 
of  murder  commences,  there  will  be  no  end  of  it,  so  long  as 
there  remains  one  white  person  or  half-breed  in  the  country.' 

"This  expostulation  nerved  Mrs.  H[elm]  with  fresh  resolution. 

"The  Indians  entered,  and  she  could  occasionally  see  them 
from  her  hiding-place,  gliding  about  and  inspecting-  every  part  of 
the  room,  though  without  making  any  ostensible  search,  until, 
apparently  satisfied  that  there  was  no  one  concealed,  they  left 
the  house. 

"All  this  time,  Mrs.  Bisson  kept  her  seat  upon  the  side  of  the 
bed,  calmly  assorting  and  arranging  the  patchwork  of  the  quilt 
on  which  she  was  engaged,  although  she  knew  not  but  that  the 
next  moment  she  might  receive  a  tomahawk  in  her  brain.  Her 
self-command  unquestionably  saved  the  lives  of  all  present. 

"From  Ouilmette's  [house]  they  [the  Indians]  proceeded  to 
the  dwelling  of  Mr.  K[inzie].  They  entered  the  parlor,  in  which 
were  assembled  the  family,  with  their  faithful  protectors,  and 
seated  themselves  upon  the  floor,  in  profound  silence. 

"Black  Partridge  perceived,  from  their  moody  and  revengeful 
looks,  what  was  passing  in  their  minds,  but  he  dared  not  remon- 
strate with  them.  He  only  observed  in  a  low  tone  to  Wau-ban- 
see,  'We  have  endeavored  to  save  our  friends,  but  in  vain — 
nothing  will  save  them  now/ 

"At  this  moment,  a  friendly  whoop  was  heard  from  a  party  of 
new  comers,  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river.  Black  Partridge 
sprang  to  meet  their  leader,  as  the  canoes  in  which  they  had 
hastily  embarked  touched  the  bank,  demanding, 

"  'Who  are  you?' 

"  'A  man — who  are  you?' 

"  'A  man,  like  yourself — but  tell  me  who  you  are?'— meaning 
tell  me  your  disposition,  and  which  side  you  are  for. 

"  'I  am  the  Sau ga-nash!' 

"  'Then  make  all  speed  to  the  house — ycur  friend  is  in  danger, 
and  you  only  can  save  him  ! ' 


38  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

"Billy  Caldwell,*  for  it  was  he,  entered  the  parlor  with  a  calm 
step,  and  without  a  trace  of  agitation  in  his  manner.  He  delib- 
erately took  off  his  accoutrements,  and  placed  them  with  his 
rifle,  behind  the  door;  then  saluted  the  hostile  savages. 

"  'How  now,  my  friends!  A  good  day  to  you.  I  was  told 
there  were  enemies  here,  but  I  am  glad  to  find  only  friends. 
Why  have  you  blackened  your  faces?  Is  it  that  you  are  mourning 
for  the  friends  you  have  lost  in  battle?  (purposely  misunderstand- 
ing this  token  of  evil  designs,)  or,  is  it  that  you  are  fasting?  If  so, 
ask  our  friend  here,  and  he  will  give  you  to  eat.  He  is  the  In- 
dians' friend,  and  never  yet  refused  them  what  they  had  need  of.' 

"Thus  taken  by  surprise,  the  savages  were  ashamed  to  acknowl- 
edge their  bloody  purpose;  they,  therefore,  said  modestly,  that 

[*  William  (Billy)  Caldwell — the  Sauganash  or  Englishman  —  was  born  in 
Detroit  in  1780,  the  son  of  a  Scotchman,  a  British  army  officer,  his  mother 
was  a  I'otawatomie;  at  the  Jesuit  schools  in  Detroit  he  received  a  good 
education  and  spoke  fluently  English  and  French  as  well  as  several  Indian 
dialects.  He  was  Tecumseh's  secretary  and  participated  in  the  \Var  of  1812 
against  the  Americans.  Was  "Captain  Indian  Department"  as  late  as  1816; 
came  to  Chicago  to  live  about  1820;  was  justice-of-the-peace  in  1826;  a 
voter  of  1826  and  1830,  and  clerk  of  election;  in  1829,  at  treaty  of  Prairie 
du  Chien,  he  was  granted  two  and  one-half  sections  of  land  on  the  north 
branch  of  the  Chicago  River;  and  in  the  treaties  of  1832 -'33  an  annuity  of 
$1000.  The  U.  S.  built  a  house  for  him  on  the  south  side  of  Chicago 
Avenue,  between  North  State  and  Cass  streets,  and  it  was  moved  to  the  south 
side  of  Indiana  street,  fifty  feet  west  of  Cass,  and  was  burned  in  the  fire  of 
1871.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Ne-scot-ne-meg;  they  had  one  son  who 
died  a  youth.  In  1827,  he  with  Shabonne  and  Robinson  prevented  the 
Indians  in  Chicago's  vicinity  from  joining  the  Winnebagoes,  and  in  1832  from 
partici]  ating  in  the  Black-Hawk  war.  He  offered  to  pay  for  the  clothes  and 
books  for  all  the  Indian  children  who  would  attend  John  Watkins'  school 
and  diess  like  the  whites.  In  1836,  when  2500  Indians  assembled  at 
Chicago  for  the  last  time,  previous  to  their  removal  to  their  new  home  at 
Council  Bluffs,  la.,  thru  Caldwell's  influence  it  was  peaceful  as  well  as 
successful;  he  accompanied  them  and  never  returned.  Mark  Beaubien 
named  his  hotel,  The  Sauganash — Chicago's  first  hotel — in  his  honor,  and 
said  he  was  the  greatest  man  he  knew  of.  He  died  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa, 
Sept.  28,  1841,  aged  61.  See  sketches  by  Hon.  \Vm.  Hickling  and  Col. 
Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  in  "Fergus'  Historical  Series,"  No.  10. — G.  H.  K.] 


MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO.  39 

they  came  to  beg  of  their  friend  some  white  cotton,  in  which  to 
wrap  their  dead,  before  interring  them.  This  was  given  them, 
together  with  some  other  presents,  and  they  took  their  departure 
from  the  premises." 

Along  with  the  party  was  a  non-commissioned  officer,  who 
had  made  his  escape  in  a  singular  manner.  As  the  troops  were 
about  leaving  the  fort,  it  was  found  that  the  baggage -horses  of  the 
surgeon  had  strayed  off.  The  quartermaster -sergeant,  [Wm.] 
Griffith,  was  sent  to  collect  them  and  bring  them  on,  it  being 
absolutely  necessary  to  recover  some  part  of  the  surgeon's  appa- 
ratus and  medicines  for  the  march. 

This  man  had  been  for  a  long  time  on  the  sick  report,  and  for 
this  reason  was  given  the  charge  of  the  baggage,  instead  of  being 
in  his  place  with  the  troops.  His  efforts  to  recover  the  horses 
being  unsuccessful,  he  was  hastening  to  rejoin  his  party,  alarmed 
at  some  appearance  of  disorder  among  the  Indians,  when  he  was 
met  and  made  prisoner  by  To-pe-ne-be. 

Having  taken  from  him  his  arms  and  accoutrements,  the  Pota- 
watomie  put  him  in  a  canoe  and  paddled  him  across  the  river, 
bidding  him  make  for  the  woods  and  secrete  himself.  This  he 
did,  and  the  following  day,  in  the  afternoon,  seeing  from  his 
lurking  place  that  all  appeared  quiet,  he  ventured  to  steal  cau- 
tiously into  the  garden  of  Ouilmette,  where  he  concealed  himself 
behind  some  currant  bushes. 

After  a  time  he  determined  to  enter  the  house,  and  accordingly 
climbed  up,  through  a  small  back  window,  into  the  room  where 
the  family  were.  This  was  just  as  the  Wabash  Indians  had  left 
the  house  of  Ouilmette  for  that  of  Mr.  K[inzie].  The  danger  of 
the  sergeant  was  now  imminent.  The  family  of  Ouilmette 
stripped  him  of  his  uniform,  and  arrayed  him  in  a  suit  of  deer- 
skin, with  belt,  moccasins,  and  pipe,  like  a  French  engagd  His 
dark  complexion  and  large  black  whiskers  favored  the  disguise. 
The  family  were  all  ordered  to  address  him  in  French,  and, 
although  utterly  ignorant  of  the  language,  he  continued  to  pass 
for  a  voyageur,  and  as  such  to  accompany  Mr.  K[inzie]  and  his 
family,  undiscovered  by  his  enemies,  to  St.  Joseph's. 


40  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

"Little  remains  to  be  told.  On  the  third  day  after  the  battle,  the 
family  of  Mr.  K[inzie]  with  the  clerks  of  the  establishment,  were 
put  in  a  boat,  under  the  care  of  Francois,  a  half-breed  interpre- 
ter, and  conveyed  to  St.  Joseph's,  where  they  remained  until  the 
following  November,  under  the  protection  of  To-pe-ne-be's  band. 
They  were  then  carried  to  Detroit,  under  the  escort  of  Chandon- 
nai,*  and  a  trusty  Indian  friend,!  and,  together  with  their  negro 
servants,  delivered  up,  as  prisoenrs  of  war,  to  the  British  com- 
manding officer. 

[*John  Baptiste  Chandonai  was  born  near  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph 
River,  Michigan,  about  1788.  His  father  was  a  brother  of  To-pen-e-be, 
chief  of  the  Potawatomies,  and  his  mother  was  of  a  French  Canadian  family. 
He  was  a  soldier  and  scout  of  the  United  States  in  the  War  of  1812;  served 
under  Gens.  Lewis  Cass  and  Wm.  Henry  Harrison,  as  a  special  messenger 
and  guide,  whose  commendatory  letters  are  of  record  in  government  docu- 
ments; of  fine  physique,  most  powerful  of  strength,  fleet  of  foot,  courageous, 
and  the  most  trustworthy  of  the  To-pen-e-be  band.  He  married  early  in 
life ;  his  wife  lived  but  two  years,  leaving  a  young  son,  who  was  given  a 
good  education  at  the  Johnson  Indian  School,  Louisville,  Ky. ,  and  went 
west  in  1836,  with  the  Potawatomies  to  their  reservation  in  Kansas,  and  was 
living  when  last  heard  from.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  joined  the 
American  army.  His  trustworthiness  and  bravery  soon  became  apparent  to 
the  American  commanders  and  he  was  given  many  dangerous  missions  to 
fulfil.  On  one  of  these,  he  was  captured  by  the  British  and  confined  in  the 
military  prison  at  Maiden  [Amherstburg],  Canada.  From  there  he  soon 
made  his  escape — 'tis  said  he  was  aided  by  a  beautiful  French  girl  whom  he 
afterward  married — and  on  account  of  his  value  to  the  American  cause,  a  price 
was  put  upon  his  head.  His  uncle,  of  the  same  name,  who  was  a  Canadian 
British  officer,  was  commissioned  to  recapture  him  when  it  was  known  that 
he  had  returned  to  St.  Joseph  and  was  in  command  of  the  Indian  garrison 
there.  Chandonai  learned  of  his  uncle's  mission,  and  on  his  arrival  went 
with  gun  in  hand  to  meet  him  and  his  posse.  Drawing  a  line  across  the 
path  he  declared  it  would  be  death  to  anyone  who  crossed  it.  The  uncle, 
heedless  of  the  "warning,  crossed  and  was  shot  dead ;  those  who  were  with 
him  hurriedly  took  to  their  canoes  and  departed.  His  last  years  were  passed 
on  a  farm  adjoining  South  Bend,  Ind.,  where  he  died  in  1837,  aged  51,  and 
many  of  his  descendants  are  now,  1911,  living  in  that  vicinity.  Darius 
Heald,  son  of  Capt.  Nathan  Heald,  told  the  writer  that  Chandonai  visited 
his  father  at  O'Fallon,  Mo.,  in  1831. — G.  H.  F.] 

tKe-po-tah. 


MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO.  41 

It  had  been  a  stipulation,  at  the  surrender  of  Detroit,  by 
Gen.  Hull,  that  the  American  inhabitants  should  retain  the 
liberty  of  remaining  undisturbed  in  their  own  dwelling,  and  ac- 
cordingly this  family  was  permitted  a  quiet  residence  among 
their  friends  at  that  place. 

Mr.  K[inzie]  was  not  allowed  to  leave  St.  Joseph's  with  his 
family,  his  Indian  friends  insisting  upon  his  remaining  to  endeavor 
to  secure  some  remnant  of  his  scattered  property,  but  anxiety  for 
his  family  induced  him  to  follow  them  to  Detroit,  in  January, 
where  he  was  received  as  a  prisoner  and  paroled  by  Gen.  [Henry 
A.]  Proctor. 

Of  the  other  prisoners,  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Heald  had  been  sent 
across  the  Lake  to  St.  Joseph's,  the  day  after  the  battle.  Capt. 
Heald  had  received  two  wounds  and  Mrs.  H[eald]  seven,  the 
ball  of  one  of  which  was  cut  out  of  her  arm  with  a  penknife  by 
Mr.  K[inzie]  after  the  engagement. 

"The  horse  Mrs.  Heald  rode  was  a  fine,  spirited  animal,  and 
the  Indians  were  desirous  to  possess  themselves  of  it  umvounded. 
They  therefore  aimed  their  shots  so  as  to  disable  the  rider  with- 
out injuring  the  steed.  This  was  at  length  accomplished,  and  her 
captor  was  in  the  act  of  disengaging  her  hat  from  her  head,  in 
order  to  scalp  her,  when  young  Chandonai,  a  half-breed  from 
St.  Joseph's,  ran  up,  and  offered  for  her  ransom  a  mule  he  had 
just  taken,  adding  the  promise  of  ten  bottles  of  whisky  so  soon  as 
he  should  reach  his  village.  The  latter  was  a  strong  temptation. 

"  'But,'  said  the  Indian,  'she  is  badly  wounded — she  will  die — 
will  you  give  me  the  whisky  at  all  events?' 

"Chandonai  promised  that  he  would,  and  the  bargain  was  con- 
cluded. Mrs.  Heald  was  placed  in  the  boat  with  Mrs.  K[inzie] 
and  her  children,  covered  with  a  buffalo  robe,  and  enjoined 
silence  as  she  valued  her  life.  In  this  situation,  the  heroic  woman 
remained,  without  uttering  a  sound  that  could  betray  her  to  the 
savages,  who  were  continually  coming  to  the  boat  in  search  of 
prisoners,  but  who  always  retired  peaceably  when  told  that  it 
contained  only  the  family  of  Shaw-ne-au-ke.* 

[*  Silverman,  Kinzie's  Indian  name.] 


42  MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO. 

"When  the  boat  was  at  length  permitted  to  return  to  the  man- 
sion of  Mr.  K[inzie],  and  Mrs.  Heald  was  removed  -.-to  the  house 
for  the  purpose  of  dressing  her  wounds,  Mr.  K[inzie]  applied  to 
an  old  chief  who  stood  by,  and  who,  like  most  of  his  tribe 
possessed  some  skill  in  surgery,  to  extract  a  ball  from  the  arm  of 
the  sufferer.  , 

"  'No,  father,'  replied  he,  'I  can  not  do  it — it  makes  me  sick 
here!'  placing  his  hand  upon  his  heart.  This,  after  the  bloody 
scenes  in  which  he  had  just  participated! 

"Capt.  Heald  was  taken  prisoner  by  an  Indian  from  the  Kan- 
kakee,  who  had  a  strong  personal  regard  for  him,  and  who,  when 
he  saw  the  wounded  and  enfeebled  state  of  Mrs.  H[eald], 
released  his  prisoner,  that  he  might  accompany  his  wife  to  St. 
Joseph's.  To  the  latter  place,  they  were  accordingly  carried  by 
Chandonai  and  his  party.  In  the  meantime,  the  Indian  who  had 
so  nobly  released  his  prisoner  returned  to  his  village  on  the  Kan- 
kakee,  where  he  had  the  mortification  of  finding  that  his  conduct 
had  excited  great  dissatisfaction  among  his  band.  So  great  was 
the  displeasure  manifested  that  he  resolved  to  make  a  journey  to 
St.  Joseph's  and  reclaim  his  prisoner. 

News  of  his  intention  being  brought  to  To-pe-ne-be  and 
Keo-po-tah,  under  whose  care  the  prisoners  were,  they  held  a 
private  council  with  Chandonai,  Mr.  K[inzie],  and  the  principal 
men  of  the  village,  the  result  of  which  was  a  determination  to 
send  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Heald  to  the  Island  of  Mackinac,  and 
deliver  them  up  to  the  British. 

They  were  accordingly  put  in  a  bark  canoe  and  paddled  by 
the  present  chief  of  the  Potawatomies,  [Alexander]  Robinson,* 

f*  Alexander  Robinson,  Che -che- pin -qua,  a  chief  of  the  united  Potawat- 
omies, Chippewas,  and  Ottawas,  born  at  Mackinac  in  1762;  son  of  a  Scotch 
trader,  an  ex  -  British  army  officer,  and  an  Ottawa  woman.  He  married  at 
Mackinac  and  at  St.  Joseph  was  an  Indian  trader  and  associated  with  Joseph 
Bailly.  Moved  to  Chicago  about  1814;  his  personal  property  was  assessed 
at  $200  in  1825;  served  as  Indian  interpreter  under  Dr.  Alex.  Wolcott  from 
1823  to  '26  at  a  salary  of  $365  ;  a  voter  of  Chicago  in  1825,  '26  and  '30;  his 
license  as  a  tavern-keeper  is  dated  June  8,  1830;  was  living  at  Hardscrabble 
before  1826;  married  by  John  Kinzie,  Sept.  28,  1826,  Catharine  Chevalier, 


MASSACRE   AT   CHICAGO.  43 

and  his  wife,  a  distance  of  three  hundred  miles  along  the  coast 
of  Lake  Michigan,  and  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war  to  the 
commanding  officer  at  Mackinac." 

"As  an  instance  of  the  procrastinating  spirit  of  Capt.  Heald, 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  even  after  he.  had  received  certain 
intelligence  that  his  Indian  captor  was  on  his  way  from  the  Kan- 
kakee  to  retake  him,,  he  would  still  have  delayed  another  day  at 
St.  Joseph's,  to  make  preparation  for  a  more  comfortable  journey 
to  Mackinac.  . 

Lieut.  Helm,  who  was  likewise  wounded,  was  carried  by  some 
friendly  Indians  to  their  village  on  the  Au  Sable  [River],  and 
thence  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  liberated,  by  the  intervention 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Forsyth,*  a  trader  among  them. 

Mrs.  Helm  accompanied  her  father's  family  to  Detroit.  In 
the  engagement,  she  received  a  slight  wound  on  the  ankle  and 
had  her  horse  shot  under  her. 

The  soldiers,  with  their  wives  and  children,  were  dispersed 
among  the  different  villages  of  the  Potawatomies,  upon  the 
Illinois,  Wabash,  Rock  River,  and  Milwaukee,  until  the  following 
.spring,  when  they  were  for  the  most  part  carried  to  Detroit,  and 
ransomed.  Some,  however,  were  detained  in  captivity  still 
another  year,  during  which  period  they  experienced  more  kind- 
ness than  was  to  have  been  expected  from  an  enemy  in  most 
cases  so  merciless. 

daughter  of  Fran£ois  and  Mary  Ann  Chevalier.  Chevalier  was  chief  of  a 
united  band  of  Potawatomies,  Ottawas,  and  Chippewas,  whose  village  was  at 
Calumet,  and  at  his  death,  Robinson  became  chief. .  At  treaty  of  Prairie  du 
Chien,  July  29,  1829,  he  was  granted  two  sections  of  land  on  the  Desplaines 
River.  On  Oct.  20,  1832,  by  treaty  of  Camp  Tippecanoe,  he  was  granted  a 
life  annuity  of  $200 ;  and  at  Chicago  treaty  Sept.  26,  1833,  an  additional 
annuity  of  $300.  His  last  residence  in  Chicago  was  at  Wolf  Point,  where  he 
had  a  store.  After  the  Indians  were  moved  to  beyond  the  Mississippi,  1836, 
he  with  his  family  settled  on  hU  reservation  where  he  died  April  22,  1872. 
His  wife  died  Aug.  7,  1860.  Thru  his  efforts,  together  with  Caldwell  and 
Shabonee,  they  prevented  the  Indians  in  and  around  Chicago  from  joining 
the  Sauks  in  the  Winnebago  war  of  1827,  and  Black  Hawk  in  1832.  A 
daughter  of  Robinson,  Mrs.  Mary  Reger,  aged  68,  is  now  (1910)  living  on 
the  homestead,  where  her  father,  mother,  two  brothers  and  a  sister-in-law 
are  buried. — G.  H.  F.] 

[*  Thomas  Forsyth,  a  half-brother  of  John  Kinzie,  who  died  at  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  Oct.  29,  1833,  aged  62. — G.  H.  F.] 


IN 

AMERICA* 


FIRST    GENERATION 

(I) 
John1  MacKenzie,  surgeon  of  the  6oth    Royal  Reg't 

of  Foot,  married  Anne,  widow  of  John  Halyburton,  chap- 
lain of  the  ist  Royal  American  Reg't  of  Foot. 

SECOND.  GENERATION 

(2) 
John2  Kinzie  (John1),  born  Quebec,  Canada,   Dec.  22, 

1763;  died  Chicago,  1.11.,  Jan.  6,  1828;  married  March  10, 
1798,  Eleanor  Lytle  McKillip,  widow  of  Capt.  Daniel  Mc- 
Killip  of  the  British  army;  daughter  of  Col.  William  and 
Ann  Lytle;  born  in  Virginia  about  1771;  died  New  York 
City,  Feb.  19,  1834;  aged  63;  and  was  buried  in  St.  John's 
churchyard.  Children: 

+  3.  John  Harris?  born  Sandwich,  Canada,  July  7,  1803; 
died  June  21,  1865;  married  Aug.  9,  1829,  Juliette 
Augusta  Magill,  born  Sept.  n,  1806;  died  Sept. 
15,  1870. 

*  The  Kinzie  Family  is  arranged  in  generations  and  the  individuals  are 
numbered  consecutively  on  the  left  margin  of  the  page.  Those  having 
children,  their  number  is  preceded  by  + ,  so  that  the  reader  may  look  forward 
to  the  next  generation,  where  the  same  number  will  be  found  in  the  center 
of  the  page,  inclosed  in  parenthesis.  Following  the  name  of  the  member 
of  the  family  will  be  found  the  names  of  all  their  ancestors,  the  small  figure 
at  the  right  indicates  their  generation.  The  number,  as  used  here,  will 
enable  the  reader,  by  referring  forward  or  backward,  to  find  the  descendants 
or  ancestors  of  any  member  of  the  family. 

(45) 


+  4.  Ellen  Marion?  born  Chicago,  Dec.  20,  1805;  died 
Aug.  i,  1860;  married,- first,  Dr.  Alexander  Wol- 
cott;  married,  second,  George  C.  Bates. 
5.  Maria  Indiana?  born  Chicago,  Sept.  28,  1807;  died 
Feb.  21,  1887;  married  Sept.  18,  1829,  Lieut.  David 
Hunter,  U.S.A.,  born  in  Princeton,  N.  J.,  July 

17,  1802,  one  of  the  first  graduates   from  West 
Point;  served  on  staff  of  Gen.   Zachary  Taylor 
throughout  the  Mexican  War;  severely  wounded 
in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  was  promoted 
for   gallantry.     Captured    Fort   Pulaski,    Ga.,    in 
1863;  and  was  retired  as  Major  General,  U.S.A. 

No  children. 

+  6.  Robert  Allan?  born  Chicago,  Feb.  8,  1810;  died  Dec. 
r3.  I873;  paymaster  U.S.A.;  married  Nov.  13, 
1833,  Gwinthlean,  4th  daughter  of  Col.  John 
Whistler;  born  July  20,  1817;  died  Sept.  10,  1894. 

THIRD    GENERA  TION 

(3) 

John  Harris3  Kinzie  (John?  John1),  born  Sandwich, 
Canada,  July  7,  1803;  died  June  21,  1865;  married  Aug. 
9,  1829,  Juliette  Augusta  Magill;  born  Sept.  11,  1806;  died 
Sept.  15,  1870.  Children: 

7.  Alexander  Wolcott?  b.  July  12,  1833;  d.  Oct.  4,  1839. 

+   8.  Eleanor  Lytlef  b.  Chicago,  June  18,   1835;    m.  Dec. 

21,   1857,  Gen.  William   Washington  Gordon,  of 

Savannah,  Ga. 

-I-  9.  John   Harris*  jr.,   b.  Chicago,  Oct.  21,   1838;  d.  June 

18,  1862;   m.  Apr.  25,   1861,   Elvenah  Janes,  b. 
May  4.   1842. 

+  10.  Arthur  Magill?  b.  Chicago,  Mar.  24,  1841;  d.  May  10, 
1901;  m.  May  23,  1867,  Caroline  Gilbert  Wilson. 


THE    KINZIE    FAMILY  47 

11.  Julian    Magill4   born    Chicago,    Feb.  7,    1843;  died 

Mar.  20,  1843. 

12.  Francis  William?  born  Chicago,  July  13,  1844;  died 

July  30/1850. 

+  13.  George  Herbert,4  b.  Chicago,  Oct.  22,  1846;   d.  Aug. 
26,  1890;  m.  June  10,  1874,  Mary  Blatchford. 

(4) 

Ellen  Marion?  Kinzie  (John?  John1),  born  Chicago* 
Dec.  20,  1805;  died  Aug.  I,  1860;  married,  first,  Dr.  Alex- 
ander Wolcott,  who  died  Chicago,  Oct.  25,  1830.  Two 
children  who  died  in  infancy.  Married,  second,  May  26, 
1836,  George  C.  Bates,  who  died  Feb.  11,  1886. 

14.  Kinzie    Bates4  Major  U.S.A.,    born  Apr.   13,  1839; 

died  Feb.  20,  1884;  married  Oct.  21,  1873,  Eliza- 
beth Chumley  Jennings. 

(6) 

Robert  Allan3  Kinzie  (John?  John1),  b.  Chicago,   Feb. 
8,  1810;  d.  Dec.  13,  1873;  paymaster  U.S.A.;  m.  Nov.  13, 
1833,  Gwinthlean,  4th  dau.  of  Col.  John  and 
Whistler,  b.  July  20,  1817;  d.  Sept.  10,  1894.     Children: 

15.  Robert  Allan4  jr.,  b.  l&34',  died  in  infancy. 

1 6.  Margaret4  b.  1836;  died  in  infancy. 

+  17.  Gwinthlean4  b.  1837;  m-  Dr. 

Manson,  of  Kansas. 
+  18.  Maria4  b.  1839:   d.   Oct.    19,    1899;  m.   Gen. 

Geo.  H.  Steuart  of  Baltimore,  Md. 
+  19.  David  Hunter4  b.  Jan.  24,  1841;  d.  July  5,  1904;  m. 

Feb.   28,    1871,   Elvenah  Janes   Kinzie,  widow  of 

John  Harris  Kinzie,  jr. 
+  20.  Julia4  b.  May  4,  1842;  m.  Nov.  13,  1860,  William  B. 

Parsons  of  Vermont. 
21.  Marion4   b.    Sep.  16,    1848;    married,    first,     Lieut. 

Edward  Totten,    U.S.A.;  second,  John  Sniden. 

No  children. 


48  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO 

22.  John  Harris?  IV.,  b.  1845;  m. 

23.  Robert  Allan?  Ill,  b.  1846;  d.  1859. 

24.  Frank?  b.  1849;  d.  Nov.     ,  1909;  m. 

25.  Walter?  b.  1851;  d.  Nov.   5.  1909;  m. 

26.  Nelly  Duck?  b.  1853;  unmarried. 

,  FOURTH    GENERATION 

(8) 

Eleanor  Lytle4  Kinzie- Gordon  (John  Harris?  John? 
John1),  born  Chicago,  June  18,  1835;  married  Dec.  21,  1857, 
Gen.  William  Washington  Gordon,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  born 
Oct.  14,  1834.  Children: 

+  27.  Eleanor  Kinzie?  b.  Sept.  27,    1858;  m.  Jan.  2,  1884, 
Richard  Wayne6  Parker,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 

28.  Juliette  Magill?  b.  Oct.  31,  1860;  m.  Dec.  21,  1886, 

William  McKay  Law.     No  children. 

29.  Sarah  Alice?  b.  Aug.  7,  1863;  d.  Dec.  30,  1880. 

+  30.  William  Washington?  jr.,  b.  Apr.  16,  1866;  m.   Mar. 

I,  1892,  Ellen  Buchanan  Screven. 
+  31.  Mable  McLane?  b.  Oct.  28,  1870;  m.  Hon.  Rowland 

Leigh,  youngest  son  of  Baron  Leigh,  of  Stone- 

leigh  Abbey,  Warwickshire,  England. 
+  32.  George  Arthur?  b.  Aug.  30,  1872;  m.  May  31,  1906, 

Margaret  McGuire  of  Richmond,  Va. 

FOURTH    GENERATION 

(9) 

John  Harris4  Kinzie,  jr.  (John  Harris?  John?  John1), 
born  Chicago,  Oct.  21,  1838;  killed  June  18,  1862,  on  U.S. 
gunboat  Mound  City,  blown  up  by  hot  shot,  at  storming 
of  Fort  Pillow,  White  River,  Ark.;  married  Apr.  25,  1861, 
Elvenah  Janes,  born  May  4,  1842.  One  child; 

33.  Laura  Magill?  born  Aug.  31,  1862;  married  Oct.  5, 
1901,  Lieut.  Arthur  Ferguson,  U.S.A. 


.      THE   KINZIE    FAMILY  49 

(10) 

Capt.  Arthur  Magill4  Kinzie(John  Harris?  John?  John1), 
born  Chicago,  Mar.  24,  1841;  died  May  10,  1902.  Served 
in  U.  S.  army  during  the  Civil  War  for  two  years  on  staff 
of  Gen.  David  Hunter,  and  was  with  him  at  the  capture 
of  Fort  Pulaski,  Ga.;  was  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  C.  C. 
Washburn  in  1861,  and  was  captured  when  Gen.  Nathan  B. 
Forrest  made  his  famous  raid  into  Memphis,  Tenn.  His 
younger  brother  George,  who  was  visiting  him,  was  also 
captured.  They  were  sent  to  the  Confederate  prison  at 
Cahawba,  Ala.,  and  were  finally  released  by  order  of 
President  Jefferson  Davis.  Married  May  23,  1867,  Caroline 
Gilbert,  3d  daughter  of  John  Lush  and  Maria  Whipple 
Wilson.  Children: 
+  34.  John  Harris?  III.,  born  June  n,  1868;  married  Jan. 

7,  1897,  Nellie  Bernice  Reed. 

z  [35-  Juliette  Magill?  born  Jan.  31,  1870;  died  in  infancy. 
^j.j_3(5.  Eleanor  Gordon?  born  Jan.  31,  1870;  married  June 

28,  1893,  George  Wells  Gould  of  Chicago. 
-1-37.  Adele  Locke?  born  Apr.  28,  1872;  married  June  12, 

1894,  John  Saunders  Driver. 
+  38.  Sarah   Miles?  born   Oct  18,    1881;  married  June  4, 

1901,  Herbert  Averard  Havemeyer. 
39.  Julian  Magill?  born  Aug.  31,  1887. 

(13) 

George  Herbert4  Kinzie  (John   Harris,3  John?  John1), 
born  Chicago,  Oct.  22,  1846;   ist  Lieut.  i$th  Infantry,  civil 
appointee,    U.S.A.,    1873;    died   Aug.   26,    1890;   married 
June  10,  1874,  Mary  Blatchford.     Children: 
-1-40.  Juliette  Augusta?  born  Mar.  11,  1875;   married  Aug. 

30,  1899,  William  Kennedy  McKay.     Children: 
41.  Mary?  born  Dec.  17,  1876;  married  July  23,   1904, 
Clarence  Whittingham  Hopkins,  M.  D. 


50  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO 

42.  Addle?  born  Jan.  26,  1878;  died  1896. 

43.  George  Buell,5  born  Mar.  10,  1881. 

(14) 

Kinzie  Bates?  (Ellen  Marion?  John?  John1),  Major 
U.S.A.,  Commander  Battalion  1st  Infantry;  born  Apr.  13, 
1839;  died  Feb.  20,  1884;  married  Oct.  21,  1873,  Elizabeth 
Chumley  Jennings.  No  children. 

(18) 

Maria4  Kinzie -Steuart  (Robert  Allan?  John?  John1), 
born  ,  1839;  died  Oct.  19,  1899;  married  Gen. 

George  H.  Steuart  of  Baltimore,  Md.     Children: 
+  44.  Maria  Hunter?  born  Dec.  6,  1860;  married  Nov.  30, 

1890,  Edmund  Davis. 

+  45.  Ann  Mary?  born  Jan.  18,  1864;  married,  first,  Sept. 
25,  1888,  Rudolph  Liebig,  who  died  Aug  34,  1895. 

(19) 

David  Hunter4  Kinzie    (Robert   Allan?   John?   John1) 
Capt.    U.S.A.;    born  Jan.   24,    1841;    died    July  5,   1904; 
married    Elvenah  Janes  Kinzie,    widow   of    John    Harris 
Kinzie,  jr.     Children: 
+  46.  Alice?  born  Jan.    16,  1872;    married    July  7,   1902; 

Lieut.  M.  J.  McDonough,  U.S.A. 

+  47.  Robert  Allan?  jr.,  born  Jan.  15,  1874;  married  Nov. 
12,  1901,  Veronica  Kennedy. 

48.  David  Janes?  born  May  2,  1875;  married  Dec.  28, 

1903,  Sadie  Stodhart. 

49.  Hunter?  born  Sept.  25,  1876. 

50.  William  Gordon?  born  Oct.  26,  1878. 

(20) 

Julia4  Kinzie -Parsons  (Robert  Allan?  John?  John1), 
born  May  4,  1842;  married  Nov.  13,  1860,  William  B. 
Parsons  of  Vermont;  born  Jan.  i,  1834;  died  Dec.  31, 
1885.  Children: 


THE   KINZIE   FAMILY  51 

+  51.  Robert  Wilkins,5  born  Sept.  5,   1861;  married  and 
had  children. 

(22) 

John  Harris?  IV.  (Robert  Allan?  Johnf  John1),  born 
born  1845;  married 

FIFTH   GENERATION 

(27) 

Eleanor  Kinzie  Gordon5 -Parker  (Eleanor  Lytle?  John 
Harris?  John,2  John1),  born  Sept.  27,  1859;  married  Jan.  2, 
1884,  Richard  Wayne  Parker  of  Newark,  N.  J.  Children: 

52.  Alice  Gordon,6  born  Jan.  27,  1885. 

53.  Eleanor  Wayne6  born  Mar.  21,  1887. 

54.  Elizabeth  Wolcott?  born- Nov.  19,  1889. 

55.  Wayne,6  born  Sept.  29,  1892;  died  Apr.  i,  1899. 

56.  Cortlandtf  born  Feb.  5,  1896. 

(30) 

William  Washington  Gordon?  jr.  (Eleanor  Lytle* 
John  Harris?  Johnf  John1),  born  Apr.  16,  1866;  married 
Mar.  i,  1892,  Ellen  Buchanan  Screven.  Children: 

57.  William  Washington6  III,  born  Mar.  4,  1893. 

58.  Ellen  Screven6  b.  June  i,  1895;  d.  May  21,  1897. 

59.  Margaret  Eleanor6  born  Aug.  6,  1900. 

60.  Franklin  Buchanan6  born  Aug.  21,  1905;  died  Mar. 

12,  1908. 

(31) 

Mable  McLane  Gordons-Leigh  (Eleanor  Lytle?  John 
Harris?  Johnf  John1),  born  Oct.  28,  1870;  married  Hon. 
Rowland  Leigh,  youngest  son  of  Baron  Leigh  of  Stone- 
leigh  Abbey,  Warwickshire,  England.  Children: 

61.  Margaret  Ethel?  born  Jan.  24,  1901. 

62.  Rowland  Henry6  born  May  16,  1903. 


—si""" 


52  MASSACRE    AT  CHICAGO 

. 

(32) 

George  Arthur  Gordon?  (Eleanor  Lytlef  John  Harris? 
John?  John1)  born  Aug.  30,  1872;  married  May  31,  1906, 
Margaret  McGuire  of  Richmond,  Va.  Children: 

63.  Mary  Stuart?  born  Apr.  i,  1907. 

(34) 

John  Harris5  Kinzie,  III.  (Arthur  Magillf  John  Harris? 
John?  John1),  born  June  11,  1868;  married  Jan.  7,  1897, 
Nellie  Bernice  Reed.  Children: 

64.  John  Harris?  IV.,  b.  Sept.  10,  1897;  d.  Oct.  26,  1899. 

65.  Eleanor  Gordon?  born  Sept.  10,  1900. 

66.  William  Reed?  born  May  2,  1902. 

(36) 

Eleanor  Gordon5  Kinzie  Gould  (Arthur  Magillf  John 
Harris,3  John?  John1),  born  Jan.  31,  1870;  married  June 
28,  1893,  George  Wells  Gould.  Children: 

67.  Gordon  Kinzie?  born  April  10,  1894. 

(37) 

Adele  Locke5  Kinzie- Driver  (Arthur  Magilb  John 
Harris3  John,2  John1),  born  Apr.  28,  1872;  married  June 
12,  1894,  John  Saunders  Driver.  Children: 

68.  Ruth?  born  June  5,  1896. 

69.  Edwina  Adele?  born  June  6,  1900. 

(38) 

Sarah  Miles5  Kinzie -Havemeyer  (Arthur  Magillf 
John  Hrrris?  John?  John1),  born  Oct.  18,  1881;  married 
June  4,  1901,  Herbert  Averard  Havemeyer.  Children: 

70.  Rosaline?  born  Apr.  13,  1903. 

71.  Herbert  Kinzie?  born  Aug.  13,  1906. 


THE  KINZIE    FAMILY  53 

(40) 

Juliette  Augusta5  Kinzie- McKay  (George  Herbert* 
John  Harris?  John,2  John1),  born  Mar.  n,  1875;  married 
Aug.  30,  1899,  William  Kennedy  McKay.  Children: 

72.  Nonyf  born  Sept.  28,  1905. 

(4D 

Mary5  Kinzie -Hopkins  (George  Herbert*  John  Harris? 
John?  John1),  born  Dec.  17,  1876;  married  July  23,  1904, 
Clarence  Whittingham  Hopkins,  M.  D. 

(44) 

Maria  Hunter5  Steuart- Davis  (Maria*  Robert  Allan? 
Johnf  John1),  born  Dec.  6,  1860;  married  Nov.  30,  1880, 
Edmund  Davis.  Children: 

73.  Horace  Bloodgood?  died  in  infancy. 

74.  Steuart?  born  Mar.  13,  1882. 

(45) 

Ann  Mary5  Steuart-Liebig( Maria*  Robert  Allan,3  Johnf 
John1),  born  Jan.  18,  1864;  married,  first,  Sept.  25,  1888, 
Rudolph  Liebig,  who  died  Aug.  31,  1895.  Children: 

75.  Marion?  born  June  20,  1893. 

76.  Rudolph?  born  Oct.  24,  1895. 

Married,  second,  Oct.  6,  1906,  Robert  Meade  Smith,  M.  D. 

(4<5) 

Alice5  Kinzie-McDonough  (Maria*  Robert  Allan3  Johnf 
John1),  born  Jan.  26,  1872;  married  July  7,  1902,  Lieut. 
M.  J.  McDonough,  U.S.A.  Children: 

77.  Robert?  born.  Apr.  26,  1904. 

78.  Alice?  born  Nov.  13,  1908. 

(47) 

Robert  Allan5  Kinzie,  jr.  (Maria*  Robert  Allan3  Johnf 
John1),  born  Jan.  15,. 1874;  married  Nov.  12,  1901, Veronica 
Kennedy.  Children: 


79-  Robert  Allan?  III.,  born  Nov.  20,  1904. 

80.  David  Hunter?  born  May  22,  1906. 

81.  Veronica  Cordilia?  born  Feb.  26,  1907. 

(51) 

Robert  Wilkins5  Parsons  (Julia?  Robert  Allan?  John,2 
John1),  born  Sept.  5,  1861;  married  Children: 

82.  Irene?  born  Aug.  10,  1885. 

83.  Gwinthlean?  born  Feb.  20,  1887. 

84.  Ethel?  born  June  7,  1890. 

85.  Irene  Rucker?  b.  June  10,  1864;  d.  Aug.  II,  1865. 

(52) 

William    Guy5  Parsons  (Julia?  Robert  Allan?  John? 
John1),  born  May  I,  1877;   married  Children: 

86.  Guy?  born  Sept.  25,   1893, 

87.  Frank  Kinzie?  b.  June  12,  1870;  d.  July  23,  1902. 


JOHN    KINZIE 


A  SKETCH 


BY 
ELEANOR  LYTLE  KINZIE  GORDON 

John  MacKenzie  was  a  son  of  Surgeon  John  MacKenzie 
of  the  6oth  or  Royal  American  Regiment  of  Foot,  and  of 
Anne  Haleyburton,  the  widow  of  Chaplain  William  Haley- 
burton  of  the  First  or  Royal  American  Regiment  of  Foot. 

Mrs.  Haleyburton  had  one  child  by  Maj.  Haleyburton, 
a  daughter  named  Alice,  born  January  22,  1758.  This 
event  took  place  just  before  the  regiment  embarked  from 
Ireland  for  America,  and  the  Haleyburtons  were  conse- 
quently delayed  for  several  weeks  before  rejoining  the 
command  in  Quebec. 

Major  Haleyburton  died  soon  after  their  arrival  in 
America,  and  his  widow  a  couple  of  years  later  married 
Surgeon  John  MacKenzie.  Their  son  John  was  born  in 
Quebec,  December  3,  1763. 

.Major  MacKenzie  survived  the  birth  of  his  son  but  a 
few  months,  and  his  widow  took  for  her  third  husband 
William  Forsyth,  of  New  York  City,  by  whom  she  had 
five  sons:  William,  George,  James,  Thomas,  and  Robert 
Allan. 

In  the  old  family  Bible  is  the  following  touching  record 
of  an  event  that  occurred  after  the  family  had  removed 
from  New  York  to  Detroit: 

"George  Forsyth  was  lost  in  the  woods  6th  of 
August,  1775,  when  Henry  Hays  and  Mark  Stir- 
ling ran  away  and  left  him.  The  remains  of 
George  Forsyth  were  found  by  an  Indian  the  2d 
of  Oct.,  1776,  close  by  the  Prairie  Ronde." 

(55) 


There  was  nothing  to  identify  the  child  except  the 
auburn  curls  of  his  hair  and  the  little  boots  he  had  worn. 

In  this  same  old  Bible,  the  "Mac"  is  dropped  in  recording 
the  birth  of  "John  Kinsey,"  so  spelled,  thus  indicating  that 
he  was  known  as  John  Kinsey,  or,  as  he  himself  spelled 
it,  Kinzie  from  early  childhood. 

Young  John  grew  up  under  the  care  and  supervision  of 
his  step- father,  Mr.  Forsyth,  until  at  the  age  of  ten  he 
began  his  adventurous  career  by  running  away. 

He  and  his  two  half-brothers  attended  a  school  at 
Williamsburg,  L.  I.,  escorted  there  every  Monday  by  a 
servant,  who  came  to  bring  them  home  every  Friday.  One 
fine  afternoon,  when  the  servant  came  to  take  the  boys 
home,  Master  Johnny  was  missing.  An  immediate  search 
was  made,  but  not  a  trace  of  him  could  be  found.  His 
mother  was  almost  frantic.  The  mysterious  disappearance 
of  her  bright,  handsome  boy  was  a  fearful  blow.  Days 
passed  without  tidings  of  the  lost  one,  and  hope  fled.  The 
only  solution  suggested  was,  that  he  might  have  been 
accidently  drowned,  and  his  body  swept  out  to  sea. 

Meantime,  Master  John  was  very  much  alive.  He  had 
determined  to  go  to  Quebec  to  try,  as  he  afterward  ex- 
plained, to  discover  some  of  his  father's  relations.  He 
had  managed  to  find  a  sloop  which  was  just  going  up  the 
Hudson,  and  with  the  confidence  and  audacity  of  a  child, 
he  stepped  gaily  on  board  and  set  forth  on  his  travels. 
Most  fortunately  for  him,  he  attracted  the  notice  of  a 
passenger  on  the  vessel  who  was  going  to  Quebec,  and 
who  began  to  question  the  lonely  little  lad.  He  became 
so  interested  in  the  boy  that  he  took  him  in  charge,  paid 
his  fare  and  landed  him  safely  in  his  native  city. 

But  here,  alas,  Master  Johnny  soon  found  himself 
stranded.  Very  cold,  very  hungry  and  very  miserable,  he 
was  wandering  down  one  of  the  streets  of  Quebec  when  his 


KIJM/Slh.    FAMILY  57 

attention  was  attracted  by  a  glittering  array  of  watches 
and  silver  in  a  shop  window,  where  a  man  was  sitting 
repairing  a  clock.  Johnny  stood  gazing  wistfully  in;  his 
yellow  curls,  blue  eyes,  and  pathetic  little  face  appealed  to 
the  kind  silversmith,  who  beckoned  him  into  the  shop  and 
soon  learned  his  story.  "And  what  are  you  going  to  do 
now?"  asked  the  man.  "I  am  going  to  work"  replied 
"ten-year-old"  valiantly.  "Why,  what  could  you  do?" 
laughed  the  man.  "I  could  do  anything  you  told  me  to 
do,  if  you  just  showed  me  how  to  do  it,"  said  John.  The 
result  was  that  John  obtained  the  job.  The  silversmith 
had  no  children,  and  as  the  months  rolled  on,  he  grew 
more  and  more  fond  of  John.  He  taught  him  as  much  of 
his  trade  as  the  lad  could  acquire  in  the  three  years  of  his 
stay  in  Quebec. 

This  knowledge  was  of  great  value  to  him  when,  later 
on  in  his  life,  it  enabled  him  to  secure  the  friendship  and 
assistance  of  the  Indians  by  fashioning  various  ornaments 
and  tokens  for  them  from  the  silver  money  paid  to  them 
as  annuities  by  the  United  States  Government.  The 
Indians  gave  him  the  name  of  Shaw-nee-aw-kee  or  the 
Silver  Man,  and  by  that  name  he  was  best  known  among 
all  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest. 

These  happy  and  useful  years  drew  to  a  close.  As  John 
was  one  day  walking  down  the  street,  a  gentleman  from 
New  York  stopped  him  and  said:  "Are  you  not  Johnny 
Kinzie?"  John  admitted  that  he  was — and  the  gentleman 
armed  with  the  astonishing  news  and  the  boy's  address, 
promptly  communicated  with  Mr.  Forsyth,  who  at  once 
came  to  Quebec  and  took  the  runaway  home. 

I  dare  say  his  rejoicing  mother  saved  him  from  the 
sound  thrashing,  he  richly  deserved  at  the  hands  of  his 
step -father. 


John  had  had  enough  of  running  away,  and  was  now 
content  to  stay  at  home  and  buckle  down  to  his  books. 
The  few  letters  of  his  that  remain  and  are  preserved  in 
the  Chicago  Historical  Society  show  the  results  of  an  ex- 
cellent education.  The  roving  spirit  was  still  alive  in  him, 
however.  Mr.  Forsyth  had  moved  West  and  settled  in 
Detroit,  and  when  John  was  about  eighteen  years  old  he 
persuaded  his  step- father  to  fit  him  out  as  an  Indian 
trader.  This  venture  proved  a  great  success.  Before  he 
was  one  and  twenty,  young  Kinzie  had  established  two 
trading-posts,- — one  at  Sandusky  and  one  at  Maumee,  and 
was  pushing  toward  the  West,  where  he  later  started  a 
depot  on  St.  Joseph  River,  Michigan  —  Bertrand,  30  miles 
up  the  river. 

In  all  of  his  new  and  arduous  career,  he  was  greatly 
aided  and  protected  by  John  Harris,  the  famous  Indian 
scout  and  trader,  mentioned  by  Irving  in  his  Life  of  Wash- 
ington (Volume  I,  Chapter  XII).  In  grateful  apprecia- 
tion of  these  kindnesses,  he  named  his  son  John  Harris 
after  this  valued  friend. 

John  Kinzie's  success  as  an  Indian  trader  was  almost 
phenomenal.  He  acquired  their  language  with  great 
facility;  he  respected  their  customs;  and  they  soon  found 
that  his  "word  was  as  good  as  his  bond."  He  was  a  keen 
trader,  not  allowing  himself  to  be  cheated,  nor  attempting 
to  cheat  them.  He  quickly  gained  \  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  various  tribes  with  whom  he  dealt,  and  the 
personal  friendship  of  many  of  their  most  powerful  chiefs, 
who  showed  themselves  ready  to  shield  him  in  danger, 
and  to  rescue  him  from  harm  at  the  risk  of  their  lives. 

An  event  in  the  life  of  John  Kinzie  may  be  here  stated, 
and  the  romantic  and  sensational  tales  concerning  it,  as 
put  forth  by  some  historians,  corrected.  In  the  year  1775, 
the  two  little  daughters  of  Isaac  McKenzie  were  stolen 


from  their  home  in  Giles  County,Virginia,  near  the  Kanawha 
River,  by  a  party  of  Shavvnee  Indians.  Margaret  was  ten 
years  old,  and  Elizabeth  was  two  years  younger.  They 
had  been  captives  among  these  savages  for  ten  years, 
when  John  Clark,  a  trader,  and  John  Kinzie  heard  of  them, 
and  that  there  was  a  plan  on  foot  to  compel  these  young 
women  to  marry  certain  men  of  their  tribe.  Kinzie  and 
Clark  determined  to  rescue  them.  By  means  of  a  liberal 
expenditure  of  guns,  ammunition,  blankets,  etc.,  they  suc- 
ceeded in  ransoming  the  two  young  women.  Margaret 
took  up  her  abode  with  Kinzie,  and  Elizabeth  with  Clark. 

When,  several  years  later,  Isaac  McKenzie  learned  of 
his  daughters'  safety  he  came  West  to  claim  them.  By 
this  time,  Margaret  had  three  children,  James,  William,  and 
Elizabeth.  In  spite  of  Mr.  Kinzie's  offer  to  marry  her, 
Margaret  refused  to  remain  with  him,  but  taking  her 
children  went. back  to  Virginia  with  her  father,  where  she 
promptly  asserted  her  freedom  from  any  legal  ties  else- 
where by  marrying  a  man  named  Benjamin  Hall. 

Margaret  McKenzie's  desertion  of  the  man  who  had 
saved  her  from  a  cruel  fate  can  only  be  condoned  by  the 
fact  that  she  had  spent  ten  years  of  her  life  among  savages, 
and  that  the  prospect  of  a  return  to  her  early  home  and 
the  comforts  of  civilization  appealed  to  her  too  strongly  to 
be  resisted  when  contrasted  with  the  hardships  of  life  on 
the  frontier. 

After  the  breaking  up  of  his  home  and  the  loss  of  his 
children,  Mr.  Kinzie  threw  himself  with  restless  energy 
into  his  business.  He  made  long  and  arduous  journeys, 
extending  his  trading-posts  far  into  the  West.  When  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Detroit,  he  made  his  home  with  his 
half-brother,  William  Forsyth,  who  had  married  a  Miss 
Margaret  Lytle,  daughter  of  Col.  William  Lytle  of  Vir- 
ginia. Here  he  was  always  a  welcome  guest;  and  here 


6O  MASSACRE    AT   CHICAGO 

he  met  Mrs.  Forsyth's  younger  sister,  Eleanor.  She  was 
the  widow  of  a  British  officer,  Capt.  Daniel  McKillip,  who 
had  been  killed  in  a  sortie  from  Fort  Defiance.  Since  his 
death,  she,  and  her  little  daughter  Margaret,  had  made 
their  home  with  the  Forsyths. 

John  Kinzie  fell  desperately  in  love  with  the  handsome 
young  widow,  and  on  Jan.  23,  1798,  they  were  married. 

Mr.  Kinzie  continued  to  extend  his  business  still  farther 
West,  and  in  October,  1804,  he  moved  with  his  wife  and 
infant  son,  John  Harris,  to  Chicago,  where  he  purchased 
the  trading- establishment  of  Pierre  le  Mai,  a  Frenchman. 

Here,  cut  off  from  the  world  at  large,  with  no  society 
but  the  military  at  Fort  Dearborn,  the  Kinzies  lived  in 
great  contentment,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  com- 
forts, together  with  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  The  first 
white  child  born  outside  of  Fort  Dearborn  was  their  little 
daughter  Ellen  Marion,  on  December  20,  1805.  Next 
came  Maria  Indiana,  born  September  28,  1807.  Then, 
lastly,  Robert  Allan,  born  February  8,  1810. 

By  degrees,  Mr.  Kinzie  established  still  more  remote 
posts,  all  contributing  to  the  parent  one  at  Chicago.  At 
Milwaukee,  with  the  Menomenees;  at  Rock  River  with 
the  Winnebagoes  and  the  Potawatomies;  on  the  Illinois 
River  and  the  Kankakee  with  the  Potawatomies  of  the 
Prairies;  and  with  the  Kickapoos  in  what  was  called  "Le 
Large,"  being  the  widely  extended  district  afterward  con- 
verted into  Sangamon  County.  He  was  appointed  Sub- 
Indian  Agent  and  Government  Interpreter,  and  in  these 
capacities  he  rendered  valuable  services. 

The  killing  of  a  Frenchman  named  John  Lalime  by 
John  Kinzie  occurred  about  the  year  1810,  under  the  fol- 
lowing circumstances:  Lalime  became  insanely  jealous  of 
Mr.  Kinzie's  success  as  a  rival  trader,  and  was  unwise 


THE   KINZIE    FAMILY  6l 

enough  to  threaten  to  take  Kinzie's  life.  The  latter  only 
laughed  at  the  reports,  saying  "Threatened  men  live  long, 
and  I  am  not  worrying  over  Lalime's  wild  talk."  Several 
of  his  staunchest  Indian  friends,  however,  continued  to 
warn  him,  and  he  at  last  consented  to  carry  some  sort  of 
weapon  in  case  Lalime  really  had  the  folly  to  attack  him. 
He  accordingly  took  a  carving-knife  from  the  house  and 
started  to  sharpen  it  on  a  grindstone  in  the  woodshed. 
Young  John  stood  beside  him  much  interested  in  this 
novel  proceeding.  "What  are  you  doing,  father?"  he 
asked.  "Sharpening  this  knife,  my  son,"  was  the  reply. 
"What  for?"  said  John.  "Go  into  the  house,"  replied  his 
father,  "and  do  n't  ask  questions  about  things  that  do  n't 
concern  you."  A  few  days  passed.  Nothing  happened, 
but  Mr.  Kinzie  carried  the  knife. 

*Mrs.  Kinzie's  daughter  by  her  first  marriage  was  now 
seventeen  years  old,  and  was  the  wife  of  Lieut.  Linai 
Thomas  Helm,  one  of  the  officers  stationed  at  Fort  Dear- 
born, and  Mr.  Kinzie  frequently  went  over  there  to  spend 
the  evening.  One  dark  night,  he  crossed  over  to  the 
fort,  and  just  as  he  was  entering  the  inclosure,  a  man 
sprang  out  from  behind  the  gate-post  and  plunged  a  knife 
into  his  neck.  It  was  Lalime.  Quick  as  a  flash,  Mr. 
Kinzie  drew  his  knife  and  dealt  Lalime  a  furious  blow,  and 
a  fatal  one.  The  man -fell  like  a  log  into  the  river  below. 
Mr.  Kinzie  staggered  home,  covered  with  blood  from  the 
deep  wound. 

*  Mrs.  John  Kinzie  had  a  daughter  by  her  first  husband  named  Margaret 
McKillip.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  she  married  Lieut.  Linai  Thomas 
Helm,  U.S.A.,  then  stationed  at  Fort  Dearborn,  Chicago.  Her  rescue 
from  death  by  Black  Partridge,  during  the  Chicago  massacre,  is  thrillingly 
told  in  her  own  words,  in  "WAU-BUN."  She  is  represented  by  the 
female  figure  in  the  bronze  group,  erected  by  George  M.  Pullman  to  corn- 
memorize  the  massacre,  that  stands  near  the  site  of  that  tragedy  at  the  foot  of 
1 8th  street,  Chicago,  111. 


After  the  excitement  subsided,  which  it  did  in  a  few 
weeks,  Mr.  Kinzie  sent  word  to  the  commanding  officer  at 
the  fort  that  he  wished  to  come  in,  give  himself  up  and 
have  a  fair  trial.  This  was  done.  The  fresh  wounds  in 
his  neck,  which  had  barely  missed  the  jugular  vein,  and 
the  testimony  given  as  to  the  threats  Lalime  had  uttered, 
resulted  in  an  immediate  verdict  of  justifiable  homicide. 

In  the  meantime,  some  of  Lalime's  friends  conceived  the 
idea  that  it  would  be  suitable  punishment  to  Mr.  Kinzie  to 
bury  his  victim  directly  in  front  of  the  Kinzie  home,  where 
he  must  necessarily  behold  the  grave  eve'ry  time  he  passed 
out  of  his  own  gate.  Great  was  their  chagrin  and  dissa- 
pointment,  however,  when  Mr.  Kinzie,  far  from  being 
annoyed  at  their  action,  proceeded  to  make  Lalime's  grave 
his  especial  care.  Flowers  were  planted  on  it  and  it  was 
kept  in  most  beautiful  order.  Many  a  half  hour,  the  Kinzie 
children  had  longed  to  spend  in  play,  was  occupied  by 
their  father's  orders  in  raking  the  dead  leaves  away  from 
Lalime's  grave  and  watering  its  flowers. 

Mr.  Kinzie,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre,  offered  to  take 
upon  himself  the  responsibility  of  destroying  the  am- 
munition; and,  in  order  to  shield  Captain  Heahd  from 
possible  future  censure  by  his  superior  officers,  and  to 
turn  away  the  wrath  of  the  Indians,  he  personally  wrote 
an  order  purporting  to  be  from'  General  Hull,  cancelling 
his  previous  instructions  to  give  away  the  ammunition,  and 
ordering  Captain  Heald  .to  destroy  it.  To  this  plan  Captain 
Heald  consented,  and  on  the  I3th  all  the  goods,  blankets, 
calicoes,  paints,  etc.,  were  distributed  to  the  Indians  as 
stipulated.  The  same  evening  the  ammunition  was  thrown 
into  a  well  in  the  sallyport  and  the  liquor  was  secretly 
carried  down  to  the  river,  the  heads  of  the  barrels  knocked 
in,  and  their  contents  poured  into  the  stream. 


The  morning  of  the  i5th  arrived.  All  things  were  in 
readiness,  and' nine  o'clock  was  the  hour  named  for  start- 
ing. Early  that  same  day,  Mr.  Kinzie  received  a  message 
from  To-pe-ne-be  a  chief  of  the  St.  Joseph's  band,  inform- 
ing him  that  mischief  was  intended  by  the  Potawatomies, 
who  had  engaged  to  escort  the  detachment,  and  urging 
him  to  relinquish  his  design  of  accompanying  the  troops 
by  land,  promising  that  a  boat  containing  himself  and 
family  should  be  permitted  to  pass  in  safety  to  St.  Joseph's. 
Mr.  Kinzie  gladly  accepted  this  offer  on  behalf  of  his 
family,  but  firmly  declined  it  for  himself.  He  had  deter- 
mined to  accompany  the  command  on  its  perilous  march. 
He  hoped  that  his  presence  with  the  troops  might  operate 
as  a  restraint  on  the  fury  of  the  savages,  so  warmly  were 
the  greater  part  of  ,them  attached  to  himself  and  his 
family;  yet  he  fully  realized  the  possibility  of  a  savage 
outbreak  that  would  spare  neither  friend  nor  foe. 

Seldom  does  one  find  a  man  with  the  personal  courage 
and  civic  virtue  of  John  Kinzie,  who  thus  refused  safety 
for  himself  in  order  to  stand  or  fall  with  his  countrymen, 
and  who,  as  stern  as  any  Spartan,  bade  farewell  to  his, 
family  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  that  little  handful  who  went 
forward  to  almost  certain  destruction. 

In  1816,  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family  again  returned  to 
Chicago,  where  he  at  once  undertook  to  collect  the  scat- 
tered remnants  of  his  property — a  most  disheartening 
task.  He  found  his  various  trading- posts  abandoned,  his 
clerks  scattered,  and  his  valuable  furs,  goods,  etc.,  lost  or 
destroyed. 

In  real  estate,  however,  he  was  rich  —  for  he  owned  nearly 
all  the  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chicago  River,  and 
many  acres  on  the  south  and  west  sides,  as  well  as  all  of 
what  was  known  as  "Kinzie's  Addition." 


64  MASSACRE    AT  CHICAGO 

At  the  present  day  the  "Kinzie  School,"  and  the  street 
which  bears  his  name,  are  all  that  remain  to  remind  this 
generation  of  the  pioneer  on  whose  land  now  stands  the 
wonderful  City  of  Chicago. 

Shortly  after  the  return  of  the  family  to  Chicago,  James 
Kinzie  left  the  home  of  his  mother,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Hall,  in 
Virginia,  and  came  back  to  his  father.  Here,  he  was  at 
once  made  welcome.  His  father  aided  him  financially, 
and  Mrs.  Kinzie  was  his  affectionate  and  considerate 
friend.  He  repaid  her  by  unfailing  respect  and  regard. 
Although  she  had  been  dead  for  several  years  when  his 
second  daughter  was  born,  the  child  was  named  Eleanor 
after  her.  He  became  a  valued  citizen  of  Chicago,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  her  early  development,  and  died 
at  Clyde,  Iowa  Co.,  Wis.,  Jan.  13,  1866,  aged  63. 

John  Kinzie  was  not  only  the  sturdy  pioneer,  but  also 
the  courteous  gentleman.  To  keen  business  ability  he 
united  the  strictest  honesty,  and  to  the  most  dauntless 
courage,  a  tender  and  generous  heart.  As  a  loyal  devoted 
friend  of  the  Red  man,  tradition  has  handed  down  the 
name  of  Shaw- nee- aw- kee, throughout  all  the  tribes  of 
the  Nofthwest. 

Mr.  Kinzie,  recognizing  the  importance  of  the  geo- 
graphical position  of  Chicago,  and  the  vast  fertility  of  the 
surrounding  country,  had  always  foretold  its  eventual 
prosperity.  Unfortunately,  he  was  not  permitted  to  wit- 
ness the  realization  of  his  predictions.  On  the  6th  of 
January,  1828,  he  was  stricken  with  apoplexy,  and,  in  a 
few  hours,  death  closed  his  useful  and  energetic  career. 
His  remains  rest  in  Graceland  Cemetery  in  the  city  of 
his  love — Chicago. 


INDEX. 


BY  GEORGE  HARRIS  FERGUS. 


Abbott,  Dr.  Lucius  T.,  second  hus- 
band of.Mrs.  Margaret  McKillip,  12. 

Abbott,  Mrs.  Margaret  McKillip 
Helen  and  others,  furnish  data  for 
View  of  Fort  Dearborn,  9. 

Agency  House,  location  and  descrip- 
tion of,  17. 

American  Fur  Company,  36, 

Amherstburg,  formerly  Fort  Maiden, 
Canada,  where  Indians  went  yearly 
to  receive  presents  from  British,  n. 

"Annals  of  the  West,"  Cincinnati,  O., 
1846;  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  1850;  and 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  1856,  by  James 
Handyside  Perkins,  reference  to,  7. 


Bailly,  Joseph,  42. 

Beaubien,  Gen.  Jean  Baptiste,  28. 

Beaubien,  Josette  Laframboise  Grutte, 
28. 

Beaubien,  Mark,  38. 

Bertrand,  Pa^aux  Vaches,  28. 

Bisson,  Mrs.,  36. 

Black- Hawk  War,  38,  43. 

Black  Partridge,  27. 

Black  Snake,  Indian  name  of  William 
Wells,  26. 

Bradley,  Capt.  Hezekiah,  36. 

Brown.  Judge  Henry,  author  of  "  His- 
tory of  Illinois,"  N.Y.,  1844. 

Burial  of  bodies  of  late  Liberty  White 
and  a  Frenchman  near  the  Fort,  16. 

Burns  house,  its  location,  13. 

Burns  house,  mention  of,  15. 


Caldwell,  William  (Billy),  sketch  of,  38. 

Calumet  Club,  Chicago,  25. 

Canadians,  9. 

Cass,  Gen.  Lewis,  40. 

Catfish,  see  Win-ne-meg,  I ). 

Chandonai,  John  Baptiste,  sketch  of,  40. 

Che-che-pin-qua,  see  Alexander  Rob- 
inson, 42. 

Chevalier,  Archange,  36. 

Chevalier,  Archange,  jr.,  36. 

Chevalier,  Catharine,  42. 

Chevalier,  Elizabeth,  36. 

Chevalier,  Francis,  36,  43. 

Chevalier,  Fra^ois,  jr.,  36. 

Chevalier,  Joseph,  36. 

Chevalier,  Josette,  36. 

Chevalier,  Louis,  36. 

Chevalier,  Mary  Ann,  43. 

Chevalier,  Michel,  36. 

Chevalier,  Sophie,  36. 

Chicago's  first  divorce,  October  12, 
1829.  Margaret  McKillip,  step- 
daughter of  John  Kinzie,  from  Lieut. 
Linai  T.  Helm,  II. 

Chicago,  111.,  reference  to,  9. 

"Chicago  Magazine,"  Chicago,  March 
to  July,  1857,  inclusive,  contains 
Eastman's  "History  of  Chicago," 
reference  to,  9. 

"Chicago  Magazine,"  note  from  Vol.  i, 
No.  I,  1857,  describing  the  first 
Fort  Dearborn,  10. 

Chicago  River  at  Rush  street  bridge, 
the  south  channel  to,  excavated  in 
1856,  25. 


(65) 


66 


INDEX. 


Chicago  River,  intersected  Lee's  place, 

!3- 
Chicago    River's   mouth    at    Madison 

street  prior  to  1834;  present  channel 

made  by  United  States  in  1834,  14. 
Corbin,  Mrs.  Phelim,  34. 
Council  held,  Aug.  12,  between  Indians 

and  Capt.  Heald,  23. 
Council,  second,  held  with  Indians,  26. 


Davis,  George,    "the   sweet  singer   of 

St.  James'  Church."     View  of  Fort 

Dearborn  by,  9. 
Dearborn     Street     draw- bridge,    first 

built  in  1834  by  Nelson  R.  Norton, 

removed  in  1839,  14. 
De  Charmes,  a  trading  establishment, 

now  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  24. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  reference  to,  9. 
Dillingham,  John  E. ,    Fort  Dearborn 

drawn  on  wood  by,  9. 


Eastman's,  Zebina,  "  History  of  Chi- 
cago,"  appeared  in  the  "Chicago 
Magazine,"  1857,  9. 

Ellis,  William,  printer,  of  Ellis  & 
Fergus,  did  the  press -work  of 
"  Massacre  at  Chicago, "  7. 


Fergus,  Robert,  printer,  of  Ellis  & 
Fergus,  set  the  type  for  "  The  Mass- 
acre at  Chicago,"  1844,  7. 

"Fort  Dearborn,"  by  Hon.  John 
Wentworth,  26. 

Fort  Dearborn,  its  location,  14. 

Fort  Dearborn,  prior  to  May,  1804, 
was  known  as  Port  Chicago,  10. 

Fort  Dearborn,  the  first  one,  de- 
scribed, 10. 

Fort  Dearborn,  the  first.  View  of  from 
northwest,  the  sketch  by  George 
Davis,  9. 

Fort  Dearborn,  the  second  one,  de- 
scribed, 10. 

Fort  Maiden,  now  Amherstburg, 
Canada,  where  Indians  yearly  re- 
ceived presents  from  British,  n. 

Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  reference  to,  9. 

Forsyth,  Thomas,  half  brother  of  John 
Kinzie,  43. 


Frenchman,  a,  murdered  by  Winne- 
bago  Indians  at  Lee's  place,  16. 

Frenchman,  employed  on  Lee's  place, 
14. 

G 

Geiger,  Col.  Frederick,  father  of 
William  Wells'  white  wife,  25. 

Great  Storm,  Oct.  3-4,  1836,  washes 
away  sandbar  at  mouth  of  Chicago 
River,  14. 

Griffith,  William,  quartermaster -ser- 
geant, 39. 

Grosse  Point,  36. 

Grutte.  Josette  Laframboise,  28. 

Gurnie,  Walter  Smith,  his  house 
(1850),  finest  on  Michigan  Avenue, 
1 8. 

H 

Hanks,  Lieut.  Porter,  27. 

Hardscrabble,  42. 

"Hardscrabble,"  by  Major 

Richardson,  reference  to,  7. 

Hardscrabble,  its  legal  description,  13. 

Harmer,  Gen.  Josiah,  25. 

Harrison,  Gen.  William  Henry,  40. 

Hayes,  Sergt.  Otho,  wounded  by 
Nau-non-gee,  principal  chief  of 
the  Calumet  Village,  and  is  bay- 
oneted by  Hayes,  12. 

Heald,  Hon.  Darius,  only  son  of 
Capt.  Nathan  Heald,  died  Novem- 
ber 25,  1904,  aged  82,  at  O'Fallon, 
St.  Charles  Co.,  Mo.,  n,  40. 

Heald,  Capt.  Nathan,  commanding 
officer  of  Fort  Dearborn  in  1812; 
sketch  of,  10,  40. 

Heald,  Rebekah  Wells,  wife  of  Capt. 
Nathan  Heald,  daughter  of  Col. 
Samuel  Wells,  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
brother  of  Capt.  William  Wells,  12. 

Heald,  Sybil  Adams,  mother  of  Capt. 
Nathan  Heald,  10. 

Heald,  Col.  Thomas,  father  of  Capt. 
Nathan  Heald,  10. 

Helm,  Lieut.  Linai  Taliaferro,  at  Fort 
Dearborn  in  1812,  10;  sketch  of,  n. 

Helm,  Mrs.  Margaret  McKillip,  half- 
sister  of  John  H.  Kinzie,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Mrs.  John  Kinzie,  7,  n. 

Helm,  Mrs.  Margaret  McKillip,  half- 
sister  of  John  Kinzie,  later  wife  of 
Dr.  Lucius  T.  Abbott,  died  April 
22,  1844,  aged  49,  12. 


INDEX. 


Hickling,  Hon.  William,  38. 

"History  of  Illinois,"  by  Judge  Henry 
Brown,  N.  Y,,  1844,  reference  to, 
7- 

"History  of  Chicago,"  Zebina  East- 
man's, published  in  "Chicago  Maga- 
zine," 1857,  9. 

Hubbard,  Col.  Gurdon  S.,  38. 

Hull,  Gen.  William,  at  head  of  N.-W. 
Army,  on  way  from  Ft.  Wayne  to 
Detroit,  19;  informs  Capt.  Heald 
of  Mackinac's  fate,  19;  orders  Capt. 
Heald  to  evacuate  post  and  discribute 
U.  S.  property  among  the  Indians, 
19. 

I 

Indians,  m.,  14. 

Indians,  assembled  at  Chicago  for  the 
last  time,  38. 

"Indian  Customs,"  a  paper,  by  Wm. 
Wells,  26. 

J 

Johnson  Indian  School,  40. 

K 

Ke-po-tah,  a  trusty  Indian  friend, 
40,  42. 

Kinzie,  Ellen  Marion,  28. 

Kinzie  house,  location  of,  14. 

Kinzie,  John,  42. 

Kin/ie,  John,  and  family,  only  Ameri- 
can residents  outside  of  Fort  Dear- 
born in  1804,  9. 

Kinzie,  Mrs.  John,  mother  of  Mrs. 
Helm  and  John  H.  Kinzie,  eye- 
witnesses of  the  Massacre,  7,  28. 

Kinzie,  John  H.,  half-brother  of  Mrs. 
Helm,  and  son  cf  Mrs,  John  Kin- 
zie, 7. 

Kinzie,  Mrs.  John  H.,  author  of 
"Massacre  at  Chicago,"  author  also 
of  "  Wau  -  Bun,  the  Early  Day  in 
the  Northwest,"  N.Y.,  1856,  refer- 
ence to,  7. 

Kinzie,  Mrs.  John  H.,  furnished  sketch 
of  first  Fort  Dearborn  for  "Chicago 
Magazine,"  10. 

Kinzie,  John  Harris,  28. 

Kinzie,  Maria  Indiana,  28. 

Kinzie,  Robert  Allen,  28. 

"  Kinzie's  Improvement,"  28. 

Kinzies,  The.  private  regard  of  Indians 
for  this  family,  20. 


Laframboise,  Fran£ois,  28. 

La  Salle,  Robert  Renne  Cavelier, 
Sieur  de,  28. 

Lee,  Charles,  owner  of  Lee's  place, 
his  home,  last  occupants  of;  new 
house  built,  its  occupants,  18. 

Lee's  place,  mention  of,  16. 

Lee's  place,  since  called  Hardscrabble, 
killing  and  scalping  at,  its  loca- 
tion, 13. 

Lee,  son  of  Charles,  accompanies  dis- 
charged soldier,  escapes  from  Lee's 
place  and  spreads  alarm  of  Indians,  14. 

Lighthouse,  built  in  1832  ;  taken  down 
in  1857;  location  of,  17. 

Lighthouse  lot,  present  site  of  all 
that  remains  of,  1 7. 

Lind,  Sylvester,  lumber  yard  of,  32. 

Little  Turtle.  Me-che-kau-nah-qua, 
chief  of  the  Miamis,  25. 

M 

Mai,  Piere  le,  36. 
Maiden,  Amherstburg,  40. 
McWilliams,  James,  family  of,  mention 

of,  1 8. 
Me-che-kau-nah-qua,     see     Little' 

Turtle.  25. 
Morrison,  Samuel,  26. 

N 

Nau-non-gee,  foreseeing  his  approach- 
ing end,  enjoins  his  young  men  to 
respect  the  safety  of  prisoners,  12. 

Nau-non-gee,  of  Calumet  band,  in 
spring,  1812,  visits  Fort  Dearborn, 
remark  of  concerning  Mrs.  Heald 
and  Mrs.  Helm,  considered  an  idle 
threat,  12. 

Ne  -  scot -ne' meg,  35,  38. 

Nichols,  —  — ,  engraved  Fort  Dear- 
born on  wood,  9. 

Noble,  John,  early  settler,  death,   14. 

Noble,  Mark,  sr.,  last  occupant  of 
Kinzie  House,  14. 

Norton,  Nelson  R.,  built  first  Dear- 
born street  draw -bridge  in  1834, 
damaged  and  removed  in  1839,  14. 


Ottawas  were  engaged  with  the  Shaw- 
nees,    Winnebagoes,    and    many  of 


68 


INDEX. 


the   Potawatomies  at   the  Battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  II. 
Ouilmette,  Antoine,  sketch  of,  35. 


Pare  aux  Vaches,  Bertrand,  28. 

Partridge,  The  Black,  31. 

Pearsons,  Hiram,  owned  land  east  of 
Michigan  avenue,  timber  from  used 
to  build  first  Dearborn  street  draw- 
bridge. 14. 

Perkins,  James  Handyside,  author  of 
"Annals  of  the  West,"  reference 
to,  7. 

Pe- so -turn,  32. 

Pope,  John,  25. 

Pope,  ( fudge)  Nathaniel,  25. 

Pope,  William,  one  of  the  founders  of 
Louisville,  Ky.,  25. 

Pope,  William,  jr.,  25. 

Potawatomie  encampment,  31. 

Potawatomies,  m.,  14. 

Potawatomies,  many  were  engaged 
with  Winnebagoes,  Ottawas  and 
Shawnees  at  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  1 1. 

Potawatomie  Nation,  principal  men 
of,  go  yearly  to  Ft.  Maiden,  Canada, 
to  receive  presents  from  British,  1 1. 

Prairie  du  Chien,  Treaty  of,  36,  38,  43. 

Proctor,  Gen.  Henry  A.,  40. 

Putnam,  Katie,  mention  of,  18. 


Reger,  Mrs.  Mary,  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander Robinson,  43. 

Richardson,  Major  —  — ,  author  of 
"  Hardscrabble"  and  "Wau- nan  - 
gee, "  reference  to,  7. 

Roberts,  Capt.  Charles,  27. 

Robinson,  Alexander,  Che-che-pin- 
qua,  Indian  chief,  sketch  of,  36,  42. 

Rock  River,  home  of  Winnebagoes, 
who  killed  Liberty  White  and 
Frenchman  at  Lee's  place,  17. 

Ronan,  Ensign  George,  at  Fort  Dear- 
born in  1812 ;  sketch  of,  n. 

Ronan,  Ensign  George,  volunteers  to 
rescue  Burns'  family,  15. 

S 

"Sauganash,"    The,      Chicago's    first 

hotel,  38. 
Sau-ga-nash,  the,  see  William  Cald- 

well,  37. 


Sauks,    43. 

Shabonne,  Indian  chief,  38. 

Shaw-ne-au-ke,  Silverman,  Kinzie's 
Indian  name,  41. 

Shawnees  were  engaged  with  the  Win- 
nebagoes, Ottawas,  and  many  of  the 
Potawatomies  at  the  Battle  of  Tippe- 
canoe, II. 

Sheep,  stabbing  of,  mention  of,  18. 

Silverman,  Shaw-ne-au-ke,  Kinzie's 
Indian  name,  4. 

Soldiers'  fishing  party,  warned  of 
Indians  by  firing  of  cannon  at 
Fort,  1 6. 

State  street  market,  locations  of,  32. 

St.  Clair,  Gen.  Arthur,  25. 

St.  James'  Church,  Chicago,  9. 

St.  Joseph  of  Lake  Michigan,  28. 

Swearingen,  Lieut.  James  McGowan, 
28. 

T 

Tecumseh,  Indian  chief,  38. 

Tippecanoe,  battle  of,  Nov.  7,  1811, 
reference  to,  II,  16. 

Tippecanoe,  Treaty  of  Camp,  43. 

To-pe-ne-be,  a  chief  of  the  St. 
Joseph's  band,  28,  29,  39,  42. 


Village  of  To-pe-ne-be's  band,  28. 
Voorhis,  Dr.  Isaac  V.  Van,  surgeon  at 
Fort  Dearborn  in  1812,    n. 

W 

Watkins'  School,  John,  38. 

Wau-ban-see,   34. 

Wau-be-ne-mah,  a  chief  from  the 
Illinois  River,  32. 

Wau-nan-ga-peth,  daughter  of  Little 
Turtle,  25. 

"  Wau  -  nan  -  gee, "  by  Major Rich- 
ardson, reference  to,  7. 

"Wau -Bun,  the  Early  Day  in  the 
Northwest,"  N.  Y.,  1856,  reference 
to.  7. 

Wayne,  Gen.  Anthony,  25. 

Wells,  Col.  Samuel,  brother  of  Will- 
iam, 25. 

Wells,  Col.  Samuel,  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
father  of  Mrs.  Nathan  Heald,  12. 

Wells,  Capt.  William,  brother  of  Col. 
Samuel  Wells,  and  uncle  of  Mrs. 
Nathan  Heald,  12. 


INDEX. 


69 


Wells,  Capt.  William,  sketch  of,  25. 

Wentworth,  Hon.  John,  25. 

WThite,  Liberty,  murdered  by  Winne- 

bago  Indians  at  Lee's  place,  16. 
"White,  Liberty,  occupied  farm  at  Lee's 

place,    14. 
Winnebagoes,  38. 

Winnebagoes    from    Rock    River  kill 
'    Liberty   White   and   Frenchman   at 

Lee's  place,   17. 
Winnebagoes  were  engaged  with  the 

Ottawas,  Shawnees,  and  many  of  the 

Potawatomies  at  the  Battle  of  Tippe- 

canoe,   iv 
"Winnebago  War,  43. 


Win -ne- meg,   34. 

Win -ne- meg,  or  Catfish,  Potawatomie 
chief,  arrives  Aug.  7,  at  post,  with 
despatches  from  Gen.  William  Hull 
at  Detroit,  announcing  war  with 
Great  Britain,  19. 

Win -ne- meg  requests  interview  with 
John  Kinzie,  advises  against  evacua- 
tion, 19. 

Wolcott,  Dr.  Alexander,  42. 

Wolf  Point,  43. 

Y 

Yoe,  Peter  Lynch,  occupant  of  Gurnie 
home,  1 8. 


INDEX— KINZIE    FAMILY. 


BY  GEORGE  HARRIS  FERGUS. 


Bates,  George  C.,  46,  47. 
Bates,  Kinzie,  47,  50. 
Blatchford,  Mary,  47,  49. 
Davis,  Edmund,    50,  53. 
Davis,    Horace  Bloodgood, 

S3; 

Davis,  Pres.  Jefferson,  49. 
Davis,  Steuart,  53. 
Driver,  Edwina  Adele,   52. 
Driver,   John  Saunders,  49, 

5.2- 
Driver,  Ruth,  52. 

Ferguson,  Lieut.  Arthur,  48. 
Forrest,  Gen.  Nathan  B. ,  49. 
Gordon,  Eleanor  Kinzie,  48, 

51- 

Gordon,  Ellen  Screven,  51. 

Gordon,  Franklin  Buch- 
anan, 51. 

Gordon,  George  Arthur,  48', 
52. 

Gordon,  Juliette  Magill,  48. 

Gordon,  Mary  Stuart,  52. 

Gordon,  Margaret   Eleanor, 

51- 
Gordon,    Mabel     McLane, 

48,  51. 

Gordon,  Sarah  Alice,  48. 
Gordon,  Gen.  Wm.   Wash- 
ington, 46,  48. 
Gordon,    Wm.  Washington, 

jr.,  48,  51. 
Gordon,   Wm.   Washington 

III,  51. 

Gould,  George  Wells,  49, 52. 
Gould,  Gordon  Kinzie,  52. 
Havemeyer,  Herbert  Aver- 

ard,  49,  52. 
Havemeyer,  Herbert  Kinzie, 

52. 


Havemeyer,  Rosaline,  52. 
Halyburton,  Anne,  45. 
Halyburton,  John,  45. 
Hopkins,  Dr.  ClarenceWhit- 

tingham,  49,  53. 
Hunter,  Lieut.  David,  (Maj. 

Gen. )  46,  49. 

Janes,     Klvenah,      46,     47, 

48,  50. 

Jennings,   Elizabeth  Chum- 

%>  47,  5°- 

Kennedy,  Veronica,  50,  53. 
Kinzie,  Addie,  50. 
Kinzie,  Adele  Locke,  49,  52. 
Kinzie,  Alexander  Wolcott, 

46. 

Kinzie,  Alice,  50,  53. 
Kinzie,  Arthur  Magill,  46,  49 
Kinzie,  David  Hunter,  47,  50 
Kinzie,  David  Hunter,  54. 
Kinzie,  David  Janes,  50. 
Kinzie,  Eleanor  Gordon  (6) 

52. 
Kinzie,  Eleanor  Gordon  (5), 

49,  52- 

Kinzie,    Eleanor     Lytle(4), 

46,  48. 
Kinzie,     Ellen     Marion  (3), 

46,  47- 

Kinzie,  Francis  William,  47. 
Kinzie,  Frank,  48. 
Kinzie,  George  Buell,  50. 
Kinzie,  George  Herbert,  47, 

49- 

Kinzie,  Gwinthlean,  47. 
Kinzie,  Hunter,  50. 
Kinzie,  John,  45. 
Kinzie,    John    Harris,   (3), 

45.  46. 

(70) 


Kinzie,  John   Harris  (4)  jr., 

46,  47,  48,  70. 
Kinzie,    John    Harris    III, 

49,  52. 
Kinzie,    John     Harris    IV,. 

48,  51. 

Kinzie,  John  Harris  IV,  52, 
Kinzie,  Julia,  47,  50. 
Kinzie,  Julian  Magill,  (4)  47. 
Kinzie,  Julian  Magill, (5)49. 
Kinzie,     Juliette     Augusta, 

49,  53- 

Kinzie,  Juliette  Magill,  49. 
Kinzie,  Laura  Magill,  48. 
Kinzie,  Margaret,  47. 
Kinzie,  Maria.  47,  50.- 
Kinzie,  Maria  Indiana,  46. 
Kinzie,  Marion,  47. 
Kinzie,  Mary,  49,  53. 
Kinzie,  Nelly  Duck,  48. 
Kinzie,  Robert  Allan,  46, 47. 
Kinzie,  Robert  Allan,  jr., 47. 
Kinzie,  Robt.  Allan,  jr.,  50, 

53- 

Kinzie,  Robert  Allan  111,48. 
Kinzie,  Robt.  Allan  III,  54. 
Kinzie,  Sarah  Miles,  49,  52. 
Kinzie,  Veronica  Cordilia,  54 
Kinzie,  Walter,  48. 
Kinzie,  Wm.  Gordon,  50. 
Kinzie,  Wm.  Reed,  52. 
Law,  William  McKay,  48. 
Liebig,  Marion,  53. 
Liebig,  Rudolph,  50,  53. 
Liebig,  Rudolph,  53. 
Leigh,  Baron,  48,  51. 
Leigh,   Margaret  Ethel,  51. 
Leigh,  Rowland  Henry,  51. 
Leigh,  Hon.  Rowland,  48,  51 
Lytle,  Ann,  45. 


INDEX. 


Lytle,  Col.  William,  45. 

MacKenzie,  John,  45. 
Magill,     Juliette     Augusta, 

45 ,  46. 

Manson,  Dr.,  47. 
McDonough,  Alice,  53- 
McDonough,  Lieut.   M.  J., 

5°,   53- 

McDonongh,  Robert,  53. 
McGuire,  Margaret,  48,  52. 
McKillip,  Capt.  Daniel,  45. 
McKillip,  Eleanor  Lytle,  45. 
McKay,  Nony,  53. 
McKay,  William   Kennedy, 

49,  S3- 

Parsons,  Ethel,  54. 
Parsons,  Frank   Kinzie,  54. 
Parsons,  Guy,  54. 


Parsons,  Gwinthlean,  54. 
Parsons,  Irene,  54. 
Parsons,  Irene  Rucker,  54. 
Parsons,     Robert    Wilkins, 

5i,  54- 

Parsons,  William  B.,  47,  50. 
Parsons,  William  Guy,  54. 
Parker,  Alice  Gordon,  51. 
Parker,  Cortlandt,  51. 
Parker,  Eleanor  Wayne,  51. 
Parker,    Elizabeth  Wolcott, 

Si- 
Parker,  Richard  Wayne,  48, 

Si- 
Parker,  Wayne,  51. 
Reed,  Nellie  Bernice,  49,  52. 

Screven,    Ellen    Buchanan, 
48,  51. 


Smith,  Robert  Meade,  53. 
Sniden,  John,  47. 
Steuart,  Ann  Mary,  50,  53. 
Steuart,  Gen.    George    H., 

47-  50. 
Steuart,  Maria  Hunter,  50, 

S3- 

Stodhart,  Sadie.  50. 
Totten,  Lieut.  Edward,   47. 

Washburn,  Gen.  C.  C.,  49. 
Whistler,  Gwinthlean,  46,  47 
Whistler,  Col.  John,  46,  47. 
Whipple,  Marie, (Wilson)  49 
Wilson,    Caroline   Gilbert, 

46,  49. 

Wilson,  John  Lush,  49. 
Wolcott,     Dr.     Alexander, 

46,  47- 


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Biographical  Sketches  of  Early  Settlers 
of  Chicago.  Part  II:— Hon.  Wm.  H.  Brown,  with 
Portrait,  B.  W.  Raymond,  Esq.,  with  Portrait,  Hon. 
J.  Y.  Scammon,  Chas.  Walker,  Esq.,  Thos.  Church, 
Esq.  Pp.  48;  8vo.  1876..  Price,  25  cents. 

7. 

Early  Chicago:  A  Sunday  Lecture  read  in 
McCormick's  Hall,  May  7th,  1876.  With  Supple- 
mental Notes.  2d  Lecture.  By  Hon.  JOHN  WENT- 
WORTH.  Portrait.  Pp.  56;  8vo.  1876.  Price,  35  cts. 
8. 

Early  Chicago:  A  Sunday  Lecture  read  in 
McCormick's  Hall,  April  n,  1875.  With  Supple- 
mental Notes,  ist  Lecture.  By  Hon.  JOHN  WENT- 
WORTH.  Portrait.  Pp.  *8;  8vo.  1876.  Price,  35  cts. 
O. 

Present  and  Future  Prospects  of  Chicago : 

An  Address  read  before  the  Chicago  Lyceum,  Jan. 
ao,  1846.  By  Judge  HENRY  BROWN,  author  of 
"History  of  Illinois. 

Rise  and  Progress  of  Chicago :  An  Address  read 
before  the  Centennial  Library  Association,  March 
21,  1876.  By  JAMES  A.  MARSHALL,  Esq. 

Chicago  in  1836:  "Strange  Early  Days."  By 
HARRIET  MARTINKAU,  author  of  Society  in  Ameri- 
ca," etc.  Pp.  48 ;  8vo.  1876.  Price,  25  cents. 
10. 

Addresses  Read  before  Chicago  Histori- 
cal Society,  By  Hon.  J.  Y.  SCAMMON,  Hon.  I.  N. 
ARNOLD,  WM.  HICKLING,  Esq.,  Col.  G.  S  HUB- 
BARD,  and  HIRAM  W.  BKCKWITH,  Esq.;  Sketches  of 


Col.  John  H.  Kinzie,  by  his  wife,  JULIETTE  A. 
KINZIE;  Judge  Geo.  Mamerre,  Luther  Haven,  Esq., 
and  other  Early  Settlers;  also,  of  Billy  Caldwell  and 
Shabonee,  and  the  "  Winnebago  Scare,"  of  July,  1827; 
and  other  important  original  matter  connected  wick 
"Early  Chicago."  Pp.  52;  8vo.  1877.  Price,  250. 

11. 
Early  Medical   Chicago:  An  Historical 

Sketch  of  the  First  Practitioners  of  Medicine;  with 
the  Present  Faculties,  and  Graduates  since  their  Or- 

fanization  of  the  Medical  Colleges  of  Chicago.  By 
AMES  NEVINS  HYDE,  A.M.,  M.D.  Illustrated  with 
numerous  Wood  Engravings  and  Steel  Engravings  of 
Professors  J.  Adams  Allen,  N.  S.  Davis,  and  the  late 
Daniel  Brainard.  Pp.  84;  8vo.  1879.  Price,  50  ctt. 
12. 

Illinois  in  the  iSth  Century. — Kaskaskia 
and  its  Parish  Records.  A  Paper  read  before 
the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  Dec.  16,  1879. 

Old  Fort  Chartres.  A  Paper  read  before  the  Chi- 
cago  Historical  Society,  June  16,  1880.  With  Dia- 
gram of  Fort. 

Col.  John  Todd's  Record   Book.     A  Paper  read 

before  the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  Feb.  15,  1881. 

By  EDWARD  G.  MASON.    Pp.  68;  8vo.    1881.   50  cts. 

13. 

Recollections  of  Early  Illinois  and  her 
Noted  Men.  By  Hon.  JOSEPH  GILLESPIE,  Ed- 
wardsville.  Read  before  the  Chicago  Historical 
Society,  March  16,  1880.  With  Portraits  of  Author, 
Govs.  Reynolds  and  Bissell,  and  Henry  Gratiot. 
Pp.  52 ;  8vo.  1880.  Price,  50  cents. 

14. 

The  Earliest  Religious  History  of  Chicago. 
By  Rev.  JEREMIAH  PORTER,  its  ist  Resident  Pastor 
An  Address  read  before  the  Chicago  Hist.  Soc.,  1859. 

Early  History  of  Illinois.  By  Hon.  WILLIAM  H. 
BROWN.  A  Lecture  read  before  the  Chicago  Ly- 
ceum, Dec.  8,  1840. 

Early  Society  in  Southern  Illinois.  By  Rev. 
ROBERT  W.  PATTERSON,  D.D.  An  Address  read 
before  the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  Oct.  19,  1880. 

Reminiscences  of  the  Illinois-Bar  Forty  Years 
Ago :  Lincoln  and  Douglas  as  Orators  and  Lawyers. 
By  Hon.  ISAAC  N.  ARNOLD.  Read  before  the  State 
Bar  Association,  Springrield,  Jan.  7,  1881. 

First  Murder-Trial  in  Iroquois  Co.  for  First  Mur- 
der in  Cook  Co.  Pp.  112;  8vo.  1881.  Price,  sorts. 
15. 

Abraham  Lincoln :  A  Paper  read  before  the 
Royal  Historical  Society,  London,  June  16,  1881. 
By  Hon.  ISAAC  N.  ARNOLD,  ot  Chicago. 

Stephen  Arnold  Douglas  :    An  Eulogy.    Delivered 

before  the  Chicago  University,  Bryan  Hall,  July  3, 

1861.     By  Hon.  JAS.  W.  SHEAHAN,  of  The  Ckicaft 

Tribune.    1881.    8vo. ,  48  pp. ;  paper.     Price,  25  cts. 

1G. 

Early  Chicago — Fort  Dearborn:  An  Ad- 
dress read  at  the  unveiling  of  a  tablet  on  the  Fort 
site,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chicago  Historical 
Society,  Chicago,  May  21,  1,881.  jd  Paper.  By 
Hon.  JOHN  WENTWORTH,  LL.D.  With  an  Appen- 
dix, etc.  Portraits  of  Capt.Wm.  Wells  and  Mrs.  Capt. 
Heald.  Also,  Indexes  to  ist  and  2d  Lectures,  and 
" Calumet-Club  Reception. "  8vo.,  1 12  pp.  1881.  750. 

17. 

Wm.  B.  Ogden  (portrait);  and  Early  Day* 
in  Chicago.  By  Hon.  ISAAC  N.  ARNOLD  (portrait). 
Read  before  the  Chic.  Hist.  Soc.,Tues.,  Dec.  20, 1881. 
Also,  Sketches  of  Wm.  B.  Ogden.  By  Hon.  J. 
YOUNG  SCAMMON  (portrait).  Pp.  72;  8vo.  1882.  400. 
For  later  numbers,  tee  imtde  of  corer. 


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